News, goals, and analysis – only on the official A BOLA app. World Cup France and Sweden will face each other this Tuesday (10:00 PM) for the first time in 96 years of World Cups, which alone makes this a historic moment. But this match in the Round of 16 will also be a clash between two teams that, despite having big names in European and world football, are presenting themselves in completely different forms and performance levels in this competition. While France finished the group stage as the best team in the tournament (with a perfect record of victories and the best goal difference), the Swedes (who needed the Nations League to qualify after a disastrous qualification campaign) ended up third in their group, although they were the second-best of the eight third-placed teams to advance (in points and goal difference). Gyokeres, who reunites with teammate Saliba at Arsenal (the French center-back was rested against Norway due to a back issue), believes the Nordics can surprise. “We have to be at our best level, we need to have almost perfect defensive organization and then, of course, take advantage of the opportunities we have. We’ve seen many surprises in this tournament, it’s possible to win as the underdogs,” he stated in a press conference, looking forward to a “fun” duel against his London colleague. “In the end, I hope it’s me who is smiling.” Among the Swedes, there is hope that the Gyokeres/Isak duo can have more space against an offensive team like France, characteristics that benefit the former Sporting forward, who has three games, one goal, and one assist in this World Cup. The “gut punch” of the 1-5 thrashing suffered against the Netherlands is already “in the past.” “Now we are in a totally new phase,” the Swedish panzer recalled. In the squad led by Englishman Graham Potter, the only absence due to injury is center-back Isak Hien, which is likely to prompt Lindelof’s return from midfield back to the center of defense. On the French side, there are no absences, and coach Didier Deschamps is back on the bench after missing the match against Norway due to his mother’s passing. In the last five encounters, France has won four times, while the Swedes have won once.
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