Mbappé masterclass: France crush Sweden 3-0 and close in on Messi's World Cup record

Kylian Mbappé scored twice as France swept Sweden aside 3-0 in the Round of 32, setting a record for the most World Cup knockout-stage goals (10) and moving within one of Lionel Messi's all-time record of 19. Bradley Barcola also scored and Michael Olise provided two assists. France face Morocco next.

France did not so much win as give an exhibition. Didier Deschamps' side swept Sweden aside 3-0 in New Jersey, and at the heart of it, inevitably, was Kylian Mbappé, whose brace carried him past yet another milestone and confirmed France as serious threats to go all the way.

It was one-way traffic from the start, France finishing with twenty-five shots to Sweden's eight. The breakthrough came right on half-time: Ousmane Dembélé threaded a pass through and Mbappé did the rest. Eight minutes after the break Bradley Barcola doubled the lead, sweeping home a sharp Michael Olise pass, and on seventy-four Mbappé struck again, assisted once more by the outstanding Olise.

The night belonged to the captain and the record books. Mbappé's two goals gave him the most World Cup knockout-stage goals in the history of the game, ten in all, and took his career World Cup tally to eighteen. That leaves him just one behind Lionel Messi's all-time record of nineteen, a chase that could define the rest of this tournament. Two of the greatest are now separated by a single goal.

Graham Potter's Sweden never got going. Solid enough in the group, they had no answer to France's pace and precision, and they exit the World Cup outclassed by a team that looks to be hitting its stride at exactly the right time. France have now scored freely in every round.

What comes next is a genuine heavyweight collision. France advance to a Round of 16 tie with Morocco, the Atlas Lions who have just knocked out the Netherlands and who carry the hopes of a continent. It is a rematch of the 2022 semi-final, in far more dangerous circumstances for Les Bleus this time.

For Kenya, that France-Morocco tie is the one everybody will be talking about. With no Harambee Stars in the tournament, local hearts are firmly with the Atlas Lions, and the chance to see Africa's flagbearers take on Mbappé and the world's most feared attack is box office of the highest order. Mbappé ana moto, lakini Morocco ni ukuta, hii itakuwa vita: Mbappé is on fire, but Morocco are a wall, and this will be war. France, who topped a strong group, have been warned, and as the knockouts blaze on, our Europe verdict still has Les Bleus among the very favourites.