Mbappe brace fires France past Sweden into WC last 16

Kylian Mbappe scored twice and Bradley Barcola added another as France beat Sweden 3-0 on Wednesday (Finnish time) to advance to the World Cup round of 16, reported Xinhua.

Michael Olise set up all three goals as France dominated throughout but had to wait until first-half stoppage time to break the deadlock after twice striking the woodwork.

France created the first opening in the 15th minute when left back Lucas Digne collected a loose ball from a corner and fired from distance, forcing a comfortable save from Sweden goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.

Barcola went close four minutes later, accelerating into the penalty area before lifting his shot just over the crossbar. Mbappe then had the ball in the net after being sent through by Olise, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Sweden's best first-half opportunity came from a well-worked free kick when Yasin Ayari slipped Alexander Isak into the area, but William Saliba recovered to block the shot.

France continued to press and was twice denied by the post. Mbappe struck the inside of the upright in the 32nd minute before the rebound deflected safely into Zetterstrom's hands. Moments later, Olise's acrobatic bicycle kick also hit the post, and Ousmane Dembele fired the rebound over.

France finally went ahead in first-half stoppage time. After a short-corner routine involving Dembele and Olise, Mbappe collected a through ball, skipped past the defense and drilled a low shot into the bottom-right corner.

Sweden threatened before the break, but Elliot Stroud fired over from a promising position.

Barcola doubled France's lead in the 53rd minute after Olise threaded a precise pass through the defense, allowing the forward to drive his finish inside the left post.

Olise narrowly missed adding a goal of his own, first shooting wide in the 65th minute and then failing to beat Zetterstrom in a one-on-one six minutes later.

Instead, he claimed his third assist in the 74th minute, sending Mbappe clear with another incisive through ball. The France captain finished confidently into the corner for his second goal of the match and his 18th in World Cup history, moving to within one of Lionel Messi's record tournament total.

France will face Paraguay, which stunned Germany in a penalty shootout, in the round of 16 at Philadelphia Stadium.