Mbappé and Dembélé Eye Record-Breaking Linkup in Knockout Clash

Group I winners France will face Sweden, who qualified as one of the best third-placed teams from Group F, in an all-European Round of 32 clash at MetLife Stadium.

Les Bleus enter the knockout stage as one of the tournament’s standout performers, while Sweden aim to continue their underdog story.

France have been dominant, winning all three group matches against Senegal (3-1), Iraq (3-0), and Norway (4-1).

Including the dramatic 3-3 draw with Argentina in the 2022 final, they now have the chance to become the first team in World Cup history to score three or more goals in five consecutive matches.

Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé have been central to that success, each scoring four goals in the group stage. The duo have combined for five goals this summer, equaling the record for most goal combinations between two players since 1966. One more linkup would set a new benchmark.

Mbappé also stands on the brink of history individually. With 16 World Cup goals, he is level with Miroslav Klose as the second-highest scorer in tournament history.

One more strike would see him surpass the German legend and become the first Frenchman to score at least five goals in multiple World Cups, having won the Golden Boot in 2022 with eight goals.

Sweden, meanwhile, are looking to make history of their own. Anthony Elanga has scored in successive matches against the Netherlands and Japan, and could become the first Swedish player since Martin Dahlin and Kennet Andersson in 1994 to score in three consecutive World Cup games.

Sweden’s record in knockout stages is modest, with only one win since their third-place finish in 1994, a 1-0 victory over Switzerland in 2018.

Michael Olise and Alexander Isak have also impressed, each registering three assists in the group stage, though they trail Brazil’s Bruno Guimarães, who leads with four. Sweden’s challenge will be to contain France’s attacking firepower while capitalizing on their own creative talents.