France v Sweden · OurXI

★ The storyline

France march on

France are through. They saw off Sweden 3–0 in the round of 32, and a family that's followed them all summer dares to look a little further up the bracket. On to the next one.

TalismanDeveloping

France put Sweden to the sword

France 3, Sweden 0. A clean sheet and a comfortable win in the round of 32 — no fuss, no scare, exactly the sort of statement that puts a marker down for the rest of the field.

Why it matters

Ours are out — France in the round of 32. Win or go home.

Who to watch

★ Ours · Talisman

Kylian Mbappé

France

The gravity around which France's attack orbits — the man the whole tournament will be watching.

Comeback

Alexander Isak

Sweden

A tough first season at Liverpool to forget — Sweden need their striker to rediscover his ruthless edge here.

Liverpool

Developing

Sweden are through to the last 32

Sweden have squeezed through as one of the best third-placed sides. Not the comfortable route — but a place in the last 32 is a place in the last 32, and the knockouts don't care how you got there.

Developing

France are through to the last 32

France are into the last 32. Job done in the group, and now the tournament really begins — one-and-done from here, every match a final.

Developing

France bow out

And there it ends. France fall to England, and a summer of following them is over. It stings now — but what a ride it was, and there's no shame in going out swinging.

Developing

France bow out

And there it ends. France fall to England 6–4 in the final, and a summer of following them is over. It stings now — but what a ride it was, and there's no shame in going out swinging.