France 3-0 Sweden: Les Bleus cruise to victory to reach last 16

You cannot stop him, you can only hope to contain him. Sweden could not, and now Kylian Mbappe is just one goal behind Lionel Messi (19) for the all-time World Cup record.

It would be 5-0 or 6-0 or maybe even 7-0 by now if not for Jacob Widell Zetterstrom making eight saves, the vast majority of which were fairly spectacular. Still, it is just wave after wave of French pressure.

Michael Olise is a wizard.

He takes a touch towards goal and nutmegs a Swedish defender with a pass to play Bradley Barcola clean through.

Barcola then drills home the finish to make it 2-0 to France.

This is a long, long way back for Sweden now.

Kylian Mbappe’s goal is the difference but it should be a lot more than that for France.

Michael Olise has been majestic and hit the post with a flying bicycle kick.

Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola have gone close, while Mbappe also hit the post.

Sweden have had a couple of chances and are somehow still in this. But they really shouldn’t be. They were hanging on, big time.

Half time here in New Jersey and we’ve just witnessed why France are the favorites, for many, to win this World Cup.

Very few teams can stop their attack in this kind of form.

Sweden whip in a cross from the right and Kounde does so well to clear the ball with Gyokeres about to tap home at the back post.

The rebound then is then smashed just wide by Stroud who can’t believe it.

Great opportunity for Sweden to level it up before the break.

That would have been quite the shock.

Michael Olise’s low shot is saved really well by Zetterstrom and it goes out for a corner.

The corner is played short and Dembele finds Mbappe.

He beats his defender and curls an effort into the far corner.

Mbappe and the entire French team then run to celebrate with Didier Deschamps.

What an emotional moment.

Michael Olise gets the ball and turns.

You shouldn’t let him do that.

He gets his head up and curls inches wide of the post.

Sweden need the half time whistle here. Badly.

France have cranked it up several notches since the hydration break and this would have been a sensational, epic World Cup goal.

The ball is clipped up in the air on the edge of the box and Michael Olise hangs in the air.

He catches it sweetly with his left shin and the ball flies across goal but hits the post and comes straight back out.

It falls to Ousmane Dembele and he curls a powerful effort towards the far top corner but it somehow flies just wide.

How are France not ahead!?

France are clicking through the gears now and the ball is worked to Kylian Mbappe who is free at the back post.

He sweeps an effort towards the bottom corner but just overdoes it and the ball hits the post.

Mbappe can’t believe. He’s disgusted with himself.

Most of the fans are in disbelief here. They were certain that was 1-0 to France.

Two big chances back-to-back for France.

First Dembele whips in a really dangerous cross to the center of the goal but Lagerbielke clears.

Then Rabiot’s low shot across goal is well saved by Zetterstrom.

Kylian Mbappe is clean through and finishes calmly but the offside flag is up.

That was very close and Mbappe doesn’t think it was off. But he is.

There are moans and groans here as an image is displayed on the big screens showing how close it was.

Mbappe’s shoulder and knee cap was leaning offside. It was that tight.

France are starting to turn the screw and Bradley Barcola dribbles into the box.

He has a clear sight of goal but his effort is rising and goes over the bar.

France are pushing hard for the opener here.

Oh my, there is a majestic wave going around the stadium.

Fair play to all of the fans, they really got into that.

Drums are banging throughout and there is a lovely atmosphere here in the sun.

Fair play to Sweden, who do not seem overawed by the occasion.

They are keeping the ball well and have had a decent chance with Isak played in but his low shot lacked power.

France are yet to get going and they aren’t pressing high. Sweden look very comfortable and are flipping between a 3-4-3 and a 4-4-2 formation.

It’s working well. So far.

Got a snap of the view from up high here at the stadium and just look at this.

Absolutely majestic.

This is what the World Cup is all about, folks.

It’s a beautiful sunny day, a tad on the warm side, but that’s not stopping fans of either side having a great time.

There are definitely more French fans here but there is a large band of Swedish fans behind the one goal.

Plenty of locals too who couldn’t pass up this opportunity to see a massive game like this in the Round of 32.

Speaking to Sweden fan Robin Melander outside the stadium, who has been to every Sweden game at this tournament so far, he was optimistic about their chances today.

He believes they will score and is hoping for a draw and penalty kicks.

“I don’t think it’s going to be like a 0-0. I think will be a few goals. Hopefully we can create some chances, make some goals and maybe we can make it a draw in the end and we can win on penalties,” Melander said.

Graham Potter is going for it, which is great news for neutrals everywhere.

Sweden are playing in a 3-4-3 formation with Gudmundsson playing as the left-sided center back after Hien’s injury.

Isak, Gyokeres and Elanga are playing in attack, which is brilliant for Sweden and this game.

Sweden lineup confirmed

Zetterstrom; Lagerbielke, Lindelof, Gudmundsson; Svensson, Bergvall, Ayari, Stroud; Elanga, Gyokeres, Isak

The French team is in and Didier Deschamps has gone for it.

God bless him.

France have brought in Saliba, Digne, Tchouameni and Barcola so basically the entire left side of their team has been changed.

Cherki, Doue, Mateta and Thuram on the bench is pretty decent too.

France starting lineup

Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Barcola; Mbappe

A few of the French players are out for a stroll in the heat and humidity here and they look very relaxed.

Listening to music and going through their thoughts before the stadium fills up massively.

There is a really fun vibe here.

The winner of this game between France and Sweden now knows that they will face Paraguay here in New Jersey on Sunday.

What a game that is going to be.

There is so much excitement around this French team and that is reflected by the mood in the press room here in New Jersey.

Media from all over the world are gathering to work on this game and everyone is expecting plenty of goals from France and for Sweden to put up a fight and be really dangerous on the counter.

Also, there are plenty of Ivory Coast fans here too as huge roars go up around the massive press tent outside the stadium as Amad Diallo makes it 1-1 late on against Norway in the Round of 32 game in Dallas.

This is what the World Cup is all about.

It is win or go home, and France are the favorites to win the World Cup.

But that doesn’t mean Sweden will roll over. Far from it.

Here’s how to watch this tasty clash in New Jersey.

How to watch France vs Sweden live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 5pm ET Tuesday (June 30)
Venue: MetLife Stadium — New Jersey
TV Channel: Telemundo
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock, en Espanol

Graham Potter is a very relaxed person anyway, but he seems extremely chilled as Sweden take on France in New Jersey.

Why? Because he and Sweden have nothing to lose.

Everyone expects France to lose and Sweden will sit deep in a flexible 3-4-3 formation and look to launch counters.

They know they have pace on the break with Elanga leading the charge, and the two strikers in Isak and Gyokeres can finish and are top players.

France will give Sweden plenty of chances to score and the chances of an upset will come down to two things: 1) how well can Sweden defend? And 2) can they be clinical when France give up chances on the counter?

It’s very clear that confidence is flowing through everyone connected with the French team right now.

Their attack is purring with so many options and Mbappe, Dembele, Olise, Doue, Cherki and Barcola are popping up with goals, assists and wonderful attacking play.

At the back there are a few concerns as they gave up some big chances in the group stage.

But when I spoke to plenty of French fans in Boston recently, it was clear they didn’t care about any defensive deficiencies. They are urging their team to go all-out for the win and entertain and pour forward.

Neutrals are loving it and long may it continue as France’s forwards seem pretty much unstoppable at this point.