France vs Sweden Predictions

• France have won eight of their last nine matches, with both teams scoring in seven of those games
• Sweden have won one of their last five games
• France have scored three or more goals in four consecutive fixture

Les Bleus mean business in New Jersey

France reached the final of the World Cup four years ago and they look good value to reach the same stage of the competition if their first three games are anything to go by.

They topped Group I after winning all three matches, as they proved too much for Norway, Senegal and Iraq.

Their reward is a clash with Graham Potter’s Sweden, who finished third in Group F on four points.

Sweden hammered Tunisia 5-1 before then losing 5-1 to the Netherlands and they should come unstuck against France.

Didier Deschamps’ team have scored three goals or more in four consecutive matches and they should put Sweden to the sword in East Rutherford.

Sweden to make their mark

Sweden’s place at the World Cup was nearly in doubt after they failed to win a single qualifier. However, their Nations League performance allowed them a play-off spot and they famously beat Poland in the last minute to book their World Cup spot.

Under the guidance of Potter, Sweden have performed better in the final third and they have now scored in nine consecutive matches.

This bodes well for the clash with France, as Deschamps has been unable to keep his team compact at the back. Les Bleus have conceded in eight of their last 10, and they were unable to stop Norway scoring, despite the fact that they fielded a weakened team.

Golden Boot in Mbappe’s sights again

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot after scoring eight goals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and he could become the first player to defend the individual title.

Mbappe has already scored four goals in the group stage, and he has registered 16 shots, with nine of them hitting the target.

He has the speed to trouble any defence in the tournament and Sweden’s inability to keep clean sheets themselves suggests they will be vulnerable against one of the best strikers in the world.

Sweden were outclassed against the Netherlands in a 5-1 defeat, despite Ronald Koeman’s team lacking an out-and-out striker.

With Mbappe fit and firing, Sweden’s defence will be under threat from the first whistle and he has already proven he can score from anywhere on the pitch this summer.