PSG striker Kylian Mbappe needed just 70 seconds to make an impact in France’s 4-2 win over Sweden in the UEFA Nations League Grup A 3 Game with a brace coming from Olivier Giroud.
France had already secured qualifications for the finals courtesy of their head-to-head record against Portugal that eventually came from behind to defeat Croatia 3-2 in Split in the other Group A3 clash.
Giroud was the man of the night scoring a brace that took his tally to 44 goals for the Les Blues to relegate Sweden to Nations League B after finishing bottom of the group. The Chelsea striker is now only seven goals behind France’s all-time leading scorer Thierry Henry.
Sweden recorded a surprise lead in the 6th minute through a deflected Viktor Claesson’s shot. But France restored parity through a well placed left footed shot from Giroud in the box before full-back Benjamin Pavard turned things around from a deflected Marcus Thuram’s shot.
Giroud then got his second through a thumping header from Mbappe’s well time cross to move to 44 goals, seven behind the Arsenal legend’s mark.
Sweden later made a late rally through Robin Quaison’s goal that reduced the deficit to one. But they couldn’t get the draw they badly wanted as Kingsley Coman finished a counter-attacking move that sealed the win after the goalkeeper, Robin Olsen left the post to join the team attack during a corner kick.
The defeat relegates Sweden to League B.
Giroud chasing record with France, Mbappe proves importance
France was trying to put the result to bed after conceding early in the game. With the game already 2-1 in favour of the hosts, coach, Didier Deschamp summoned Mbappe, who has been out of three games for PSG in the second half as a replacement for Thuram, the son of 1998 world cup winning defender, Lilian Thuram.
The teenage forward quickly prove his worth with the first chance that came his way, weaving a teasing cross to the head of Giroud, who made no mistake to put the hosts in cruise control.
🇫🇷 Oliver Giroud is now just EIGHT goals away from overtaking Thierry Henry as France's all time top scorer.
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) November 17, 2020
That is mental 🤯 pic.twitter.com/h8IaCo40QH
Giroud has proved his worth despite being on the fringes in Stamford Bridge as he is currently down the pecking order at Chelsea behind Tammy Abraham and Timo Werner.
Mbappe’s performance will be a delight for coach Thomas Tuchel who is still without Neymar ahead of their weekend clash against Monaco before welcoming RB Leipzig in the Champions League next week.
France VS Sweden: Teams line-up
France
- 1Lloris
- 2Pavard
- 4VaraneSubstituted forZoumaat 45’minutes
- 3Kimpembe
- 21HernándezSubstituted forDigneat 45’minutes
- 17Sissoko
- 6Pogba
- 14RabiotSubstituted forNzonziat 78’minutes
- 22ThuramSubstituted forMbappéat 58’minutes
- 7Griezmann
- 9GiroudSubstituted forComanat 84’minutes
Substitutes
- 5Lenglet
- 8Aguilar
- 10Mbappé
- 11Coman
- 13Zouma
- 15Nzonzi
- 16Mandanda
- 18Martial
- 19Digne
- 20Dubois
- 23Maignan
Sweden
- 1Olsen
- 2LustigSubstituted forKrafthat 66’minutes
- 3LindelöfSubstituted forHelanderat 66’minutes
- 4Danielson
- 5Bengtsson
- 17ClaessonSubstituted forQuaisonat 66’minutes
- 20OlssonBooked at 28mins
- 7LarssonBooked at 90minsSubstituted forCajusteat 87’minutes
- 10Forsberg
- 9BergSubstituted forIsakat 86’minutes
- 15Kulusevski
Substitutes
- 6Olsson
- 8Larsson
- 11Isak
- 12Johnsson
- 13Svensson
- 14Helander
- 16Krafth
- 18Cajuste
- 19Svanberg
- 21Sema
- 22Quaison
- 23Nordfeldt
Referee:Aleksey Kulbakov
