Can anyone stop France?
Four years after the penalty shootout heartbreak against Argentina in the final in Qatar...
Les Bleus look intent on putting that disappointment behind them and going all the way this time.
Author | Jack L
They squandered a host of chances against Sweden, finishing with 25 attempts on goal, their highest tally in a World Cup match since 1998.
Even so, France have scored 13 goals in four matches in the United States and their attacking numbers are on another level.
Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele has been involved in six goals, scoring four and providing two assists, while Michael Olise has five assists and struck the post with a spectacular acrobatic effort.
One player will be key again
But in Kylian Mbappe they have a player at the peak of his powers, producing the kind of ruthless finishing that underlines why he is regarded as one of the world's finest forwards.
The Real Madrid forward is level in the race for the Golden Boot, awarded to the tournament's leading scorer, and has now taken his World Cup tally to 18 goals, just one behind Lionel Messi, the competition's all-time leading scorer.
France's captain has scored two or more goals in seven different World Cup matches, three more than any other player.
What are the pundits saying?
Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville said: "They are a level above. Brazil won in the last minute, Germany and the Netherlands have gone out. France are showing everyone else in this round how to do it. The rest are looking at them thinking: 'That's the level we have got to get to'."
