By Fernando Kallas and Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: FIFA.
Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France swept aside Sweden 3-0 in the World Cup round of 32 on Tuesday, maintaining their perfect record of four wins from four and setting up a last-16 meeting with Paraguay.
Mbappe opened the scoring in the 45th minute, cutting in from the left and driving a fierce shot inside the far post.
Michael Olise turned provider eight minutes into the second half, threading a pass through for Bradley Barcola, who fired into the top corner to double the lead.
Mbappe sealed the win in the 74th minute, racing on to another incisive Olise pass to beat the offside trap and curl a first-time effort beyond the keeper.
It was his 18th goal in 18 World Cup matches, a record 10 of those in knockout games.
Mbappé’s sixth goal of this year’s tournament tied him with Argentina forward Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. Both players have now played four matches.
France will now play Paraguay in the round of 16 on July 4 at Philadelphia Stadium. Paraguay upset Germany on Monday to knock them out of the tournament.
Meanwhile extreme heat will greet fans and players this week at the World Cup, as an imposing “heat dome” settles over the central and eastern United States – plus parts of Canada – as the knockout rounds progress.
The weather phenomenon known as a “heat dome” – a large area of high pressure that traps heat and humidity – could lead to dangerously high temperatures, with heat indices set to hit 105 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of the Midwest and East Coast, according to the U.S. National Weather Service.