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France have Mbappé but are so much more -- and tha...

ESPN · Jul 1, 2026, 1:18 AM · Also reported by 4 other sources

Key takeaways

  • The Swedes were not the toughest opponent, perhaps, but were swatted away in a first half that gave you the impression that Les Bleus could raise their game at will.
  • The second half was a case of when, not if, France would score more, and they were more clinical in adding another two.
  • Imagine a front four who in the same World Cup game have all been involved in either scoring or assisting.

Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.

The Swedes were not the toughest opponent, perhaps, but were swatted away in a first half that gave you the impression that Les Bleus could raise their game at will. They scored only once but hit the woodwork twice, narrowly missed out on producing several goal-of-the-tournament contenders, and limited Sweden to one shot on target.

The second half was a case of when, not if, France would score more, and they were more clinical in adding another two. Two goals for Kylian Mbappé, two assists for Michael Olise and France march on. -- Gab Marcotti

Imagine a front four who in the same World Cup game have all been involved in either scoring or assisting. Welcome to this France team: Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, Olise and Mbappé were just unstoppable Tuesday against Sweden.

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