Gary Neville says France are “a level above” any other team at the World Cup after they cruised to a 3-0 win against Sweden in the round of 32.
Les Bleus captain Kylian Mbappe scored twice in New York New Jersey – with the Sky Sports pundit adding the forward was “on the verge of greatness” as he went level with Lionel Messi in the tournament’s Golden Boot race.
Mbappe and Michael Olise were scintillating throughout, giving Graham Potter’s side little hope of pulling off a shock. France’s win means they set up a tie with the Germany-beating Paraguay in the last 16 on Saturday in Philadelphia – but Neville sees few beating Didier Deschamps’ team.
He said on ITV Sport: “It’s a real statement. We know they’re the favourites for the tournament, but what we saw was precision, devastation.
“I always look at games from a defensive perspective – those four [attacking players: Mbappe, Olise, Dembele and Barcola] that started the game will cause nightmares for every single defender at this tournament and I don’t know how you stop that.
Kylian Mbappe scored twice to book France’s place in the last 16 of the World Cup
“It’s a level above. Brazil won in the last minute, Germany and the Netherlands went out. They’re just showing everybody in this round how to do it.
“Everything they do is emphatic. It’s brilliant to watch and it’s the best performance so far in the tournament.
“There’s a long way to go, but you’re looking at them now thinking ‘you’ll let yourselves down if you don’t win this’ because they’re so far ahead of every other team in terms of level.”
Kylian Mbappe is ‘on the verge of greatness’ says Gary Neville as France beat Sweden
Mbappe scored in either half, sandwiched between a Bradley Barcola goal. Neville was effusive of his praise for the France skipper at half-time – even before he turned home another beauty.
“Watching Mbappe in that first half, he reminds me of the Brazilian Ronaldo. It’s utterly petrifying,” he added. “The little shimmy. It’s devastating.
“Patrick [Vieira] said the other day this is the Mbappe World Cup and I completely agree. He’s just a level above. He’s on the verge of greatness.”
Mbappe: I know what is at stake
France’s Kylian Mbappe led his side to victory against Sweden in East Rutherford
After the game, Mbappe took a ‘matter of fact’ view on his contributions. He has now scored 18 World Cup goals – one behind Messi.
He said: “I’m fully aware of what’s at stake, where I am and what I have to do. The team knows what it has to do here as well… We played well today, even though we had a difficult start.”
Didier Deschamps too had kind words for his captain Mbappe, who he made captain March 2023 after the retirement of Hugo Lloris.
The France boss said: “Kylian knows how to defend. He scores goals too – more than anyone else. I told you from day one: he’s on a mission. Even if you don’t always hear me say it… Even in the fitness drills, he was finishing first.
“I said a long time ago that he has embraced his role as captain. The image people may have of him from the outside doesn’t always – in fact, only rarely – reflect who he really is.”
After scoring his first goal, Mbappe went over to celebrate with Deschamps, as did the entire France team, in a touching moment for the players and their boss. The manager returned to dugout on Tuesday after temporarily leaving the World Cup following the passing of his mother.
The Real Madrid forward said of the moment: “That’s the DNA of this group. We’re all in this together. The coach has gone through something that, unfortunately, everyone experiences at some point in life. It’s incredibly difficult. He’ll never be alone with us. We’ll support him.”
France match unique style with substance
France are the highest scorers at the World Cup so far this year
Analysis from Sky Sports’ Laura Hunter:
Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe have now combined for six goals at this World Cup. But the connection between France’s leading marksman and Michael Olise is just as eye-catching.
Mbappe created the joint-most chances and completed the most dribbles. Then it was the turn of Olise to deliver the most shots and generate the most touches. Together they were unstoppable.
France’s entire front four, in fact, were on a level far greater than should even be fair. No opposition side can match this genius. Sweden were mobbed. The scoreline, dominant but not devastating, actually flattered them. France delivered the sort of performance that gets better with age, every replay a reminder of the brilliance of it all.
It’s difficult to recall a tournament with such forthright favourites at this relatively early stage. But no doubt France are fearsome and have no obvious weakness. Who could possibly challenge them?
