Haaland Sends Norway Through as France Brilliance Outclasses Sweden
Les Bleus showcased their tactical dominance in the tournament knockout phase with an emphatic performance. Strike spearhead Kylian Mbappe broke the deadlock just before the interval, converting a precise pass from Ousmane Dembele to set the tone for a one-sided affair.
The second half saw Michael Olise turn provider twice, setting up Bradley Barcola in the 53rd minute before Mbappe sealed his brace in the 74th. Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser watched from the bench as France comfortably protected their clean sheet to march onward.
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Earlier in the bracket, former RC Lens star Patrick Berg played the full 90 minutes and provided the vital assist for Erling Haaland to score an 86th-minute winner, securing Norway a dramatic 2-1 victory over Seko Fofana's Côte d'Ivoire.
Concurrently, Mexico efficiently dispatched Ecuador 2-0 through first-half goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez. The tournament now transitions to the high-stakes round of 16, where France will face a resilient Paraguay side on Saturday.