With three victories in as many matches, France finished first in Group I, as part of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. Didier Deschamps and his men won the right to face Sweden in the round of 16, the latter having snatched third place in Group F behind the Netherlands and Japan. The duel seems unbalanced, but…
In Sweden, the press and observers are generally not very optimistic about the outcome of events. However, some believe that the BlĂĄgult could benefit from a possible state of mind on the French side. On the strike force and the overall talent of the two teams, everyone agrees, the French are superior to Graham Potter’s men. But for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, everything is not completely decided.
Consultant for Fox Sports during the 2026 World Cup, the former Swedish star, notably with PSG, explained his point of view. “I see few teams capable of beating them. The only chance for an opponent is when they slack off and they switch off. But they are favorites for this World Cup. » An analysis which was also confirmed no later than Friday evening during the French victory against Norway (1-4).
The relaxation of the Blues that the Swedes hope for
While the Blues dominated their subject and had just scored their second goal, they very briefly disconnected and left a boulevard for the Norwegian reduction signed Thelo Aasgaard, before moving forward. The sound heard from Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s side resonated in the same way with another ex-Swedish international, John Guidetti. On TV4, he noted that France “has flaws” and that Sweden
“can hurt him”. And to add about the French team: “Sometimes she relaxes and gets a big head. »
The Blues are in any case warned, they will have to remain concentrated throughout the game, not to see themselves too good or too quickly arrived, because Sweden will seek to take advantage of the slightest opening.
