06/30/26 06:27:00
Printable Page
06/30 18:26 CDT Mbapp scores twice to tie Messi for World Cup lead with 6
goals, France beats Sweden 3-0
Mbapp scores twice to tie Messi for World Cup lead with 6 goals, France beats
Sweden 3-0
By RONALD BLUM
AP Sports Writer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) --- Kylian Mbapp put France ahead with a brilliant
crossover step in the 45th minute and then added a second-half goal to break a
World Cupknockout round scoring record, and Les Bleus beat Sweden 3-0 Tuesday
to set up a round of 16 match against Paraguay.
Bradley Barcola added a 53rd-minute goal for France and Mbapp capped the
scoring in the 74th minute for his third two-goal game in four matches. His six
goals tied Argentina forward Lionel Messi for the tournament lead and gave him
18 in his World Cup career, one shy of Messi's record.
"I'm very aware of who I am, how I play, what I shall do, but it's not just
about me," Mbapp said through a translator." The entire team is aware of what
should be done. It is a new competition that has started today. We did play
well, but we were timid. We could have done better at the beginning."
Mbapp's 10 knockout round goals are two more than the previous high by
Brazilian greats Leonidas and Ronaldo. France coach Didier Deschamps bowed when
his star came to the bench after he was substituted in the 85th minute.
"We're on a mission. --- so am I with them," Deschamps said through a
translator.
France, the World Cup runner-up four years ago and a tournament favorite this
time, has outscored opponents 13-2, with Michael Olise assisting on five goals.
"They are skilled at knowing when to change the pace and increase it, when to
possess the ball, went to fall back," Sweden captain Victor Lindelf said
through a translator.
Seeking to reach its third straight World Cup final, France plays Paraguay on
July 4 in Philadelphia, and the winner advances to a quarterfinal against
Canada or Morocco five days later at Foxborough, Massachusetts.
On a brutally hot afternoon at MeLife Stadium, site of the World Cup final in
July 19, France outshot Sweden 25-7, including 15-3 in the first half. It was
90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), sunny and humid at the 5 p.m.
kickoff with poor air quality. During the first half hydration break, France
defender Lucas Digne let himself be doused by a sprinkler.
Mbapp hit a post in the 32nd minute, raising both hands in disgust, and France
nearly went ahead four minutes later on Olise's spectacular bicycle kick from
just inside the penalty area, which also clanked off a post.
In the first World Cup meeting between the nations, Mbapp scored after
goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrm tipped Olise's shot just outside the post.
Olise played a short corner kick to Ousmane Dembl, who passed to Mbapp near
the byline. Mbapp took a crossover step to get around Viktor Gykeres and from
just outside the 6-yard box sent a diagonal shot inside the far post.
Mbapp ran up the center of the field to celebrate his 61st international goal,
colliding with Dembl, and jogged to the bench to hug Deschamps, who returned
for the match after going to France for his mother's funeral.
"He knows that he will never be alone with us and we will support him," Mbapp
said.
Gustaf Lagerbielke lost the ball ahead of France's second goal. Aurlien
Tchouamni passed to Olise, who nutmegged Lagerbielke, and Barcola took a
centering touch and sent the ball past Zetterstrm's outstretched right hand.
Mbapp entertained the crowd with a backheel pass to Barcola in the buildup to
France's third goal. Barcola passed to Olise, who passed to Mbapp as the star
sprinted into the penalty area. He steadied the ball with a touch and fired the
ball inside the far post.
A crowd of 80,663 raised the record total for the expanded 104-match tournament
above 5 million. A majority of fans wore France's blue, with a pocket in
Sweden's yellow at one end.
"If we look at where we were not so long ago --- we're here and we've played in
the World Cup," Lindelf said. "We lost against one of the best countries in
the world."
Mbapp wasn't quite ready to turn his attention to Paraguay just yet.
"I'm looking forward to the changing room and the AC," he said.
___
See more of AP's World Cup coverage here
|
