EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) 鈥� Kylian Mbapp茅 and France are sizzling 鈥� and not just because of MetLife Stadium’s broiling conditions.
Mbapp茅 had his third two-goal game of this and set a career leading Les Bleus over Sweden 3-0 on Tuesday to set up a round of 16 match against Paraguay.
鈥淚 personally haven’t seen a better team,鈥� Sweden coach Graham Potter said.
France’s 27-year-old star scored the go-ahead goal with a brilliant crossover step in the 45th minute and added his sixth goal of the tournament in the 74th to tie Lionel Messi for the tournament scoring lead. He has 18 goals in 18 World Cup games, one behind the of 19 in 29 matches.
In between, Bradley Barcola had a 53rd-minute goal for France, which became the first nation to score three or more goals in five consecutive World Cup matches.
鈥淚鈥檓 very aware of who I am, how I play, what I shall do, but it鈥檚 not just about me,鈥� Mbapp茅 said through a translator. “The entire team is aware of what should be done. It is a new competition that has started today. We did play well, but we were timid. We could have done better at the beginning.”
Mbapp茅鈥檚 10 knockout round goals are two more than the previous high by Brazilian greats Leonidas and Ronaldo.
France coach Didier Deschamps bowed when Mbapp茅 came to the bench after he was substituted in the 85th minute.
鈥淲e鈥檙e on a mission 鈥� so am I with them,鈥� Deschamps said through a translator.
France has outscored opponents 13-2. Michael Olise has five assists, the most in a World Cup since Germany’s Thomas Hassler had five in 1994.
鈥淭hey are skilled at knowing when to change the pace and increase it, when to possess the ball, went to fall back,鈥� Sweden captain Victor Lindel枚f said through a translator.
Seeking to reach its third straight World Cup final, France plays Paraguay on July 4 in Philadelphia. The winner advances to a quarterfinal against Canada or Morocco five days later at Foxborough, Massachusetts.
It was 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), sunny and humid at the 5 p.m. kickoff with poor air quality at the site of the July 19 final. Many fans in the club areas stayed inside their air-conditioned suites.
France outshot Sweden 25-7 in the first World Cup meeting between the nations, including 15-3 in the first half.
Mbapp茅 hit a post in the 32nd minute, raising both hands in disgust, and France nearly went ahead four minutes later on Olise鈥檚 spectacular bicycle kick from just inside the penalty area, which also clanked off a post.
鈥淚 said I think we needed a couple of miracles. We had a couple, but we ran out of them,” Potter said. 鈥淪o we needed a few more.鈥�
Mbapp茅 scored after goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstr枚m tipped Olise鈥檚 shot just outside the post.
Olise played a short corner kick to Ousmane Demb茅l茅, who passed to Mbapp茅 near the byline. Mbapp茅 took a crossover step to get around Viktor Gy枚keres and from just outside the 6-yard box sent a diagonal shot inside the far post.
Mbapp茅 ran up the center of the field to celebrate, colliding with Demb茅l茅, and jogged to the bench to hug Deschamps, who returned for the match after going to France for his mother鈥檚 funeral.
鈥淗e knows that he will never be alone with us, and we will support him,鈥� Mbapp茅 said.
Gustaf Lagerbielke lost the ball ahead of France鈥檚 second goal. Aur茅lien Tchouam茅ni passed to Olise, who nutmegged Lagerbielke, and Barcola took a centering touch and sent the ball past Zetterstr枚m鈥檚 outstretched right hand.
Mbapp茅 entertained the crowd with a backheel pass to Barcola in the buildup to France鈥檚 third goal, the 62nd of his international career. Barcola passed to Olise, who sent the ball forward as Mbapp茅 sprinted into the penalty area, took a touch and fired the ball inside the far post.
鈥淲e continue to deliver great performances,鈥� Mbapp茅 said.
A crowd of 80,663 raised the record total for the expanded 104-match tournament above 5 million. A majority of fans wore France鈥檚 blue, with a pocket in Sweden鈥檚 yellow at one end.
鈥淚 have no complaints to the players whatsoever. I said to them after the game I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 a disgrace to lose to France,” Potter said. 鈥淔or us it鈥檚 about using this as a foundation to go forward and to be proud of what we鈥檝e done so far.鈥�
Speaking just after the final whistle, Mbapp茅 wasn’t quite ready to turn his attention to Paraguay just yet.
鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to the changing room and the AC,” he said.
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AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report.
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