WED, jULY 1, AT 2:30 aM
New York, June 29: France will look to continue their impressive FIFA World Cup campaign when they face Sweden in the Round of 32 at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Wednesday.
Didier Deschamps’ side head into the knockout clash brimming with confidence after topping Group I with a perfect record. Les Bleus won all three of their group matches, scoring 10 goals and conceding just twice to establish themselves as one of the favourites to lift the trophy.
France rounded off the group stage with a commanding 4-1 victory over Norway, with Ousmane Dembele stealing the show with a hat-trick, underlining the attacking depth available alongside star forward Kylian Mbappe.
Although France have occasionally looked vulnerable without possession, their firepower has made them one of the tournament’s most dangerous teams. Deschamps, who has already confirmed he will step down after the World Cup, will be hoping to guide France to a second title under his leadership before ending his tenure.
Standing in their way are Sweden, who progressed to the knockout stage as one of the eight best third-placed teams after collecting four points in Group I.
Graham Potter’s side opened with a win over Tunisia before suffering a heavy 5-1 defeat to the Netherlands and settling for a 1-1 draw against Japan. While Sweden have shown flashes of quality in attack, their defensive inconsistencies remain a concern after conceding seven goals in three matches.
The Scandinavian side also endured a difficult qualifying campaign and will need to produce a significant improvement if they are to upset the second-ranked French outfit.
History is also against Sweden, who have lost four of their last five meetings with France, although three of those defeats came by a single-goal margin.
With a place in the Round of 16 at stake, France will start as overwhelming favourites, but Sweden will hope to spring one of the biggest surprises of the tournament.
Victory for France would set up another step towards a potentially difficult knockout path, while Sweden will be aiming to defy the odds and keep their World Cup dream alive with what would rank among the biggest upsets of the tournament. (AP)
