World Cup 2026: France vow to maintain attacking philosophy against Sweden

France will not abandon the attacking philosophy that carried them through the World Cup group stage despite conceding chances, coach Didier Deschamps has warned ahead of their last-32 clash against Sweden on Tuesday.

Les Bleus topped their ⁠group with a perfect nine points, scoring 10 goals against Senegal, Iraq and Norway, but their adventurous approach also allowed opponents opportunities.

"We have to score one more goal, ‌not give up what we're capable of doing," Deschamps told a press conference ahead of the match, acknowledging that his team had conceded “a few chances too many”.

"We have the ability to create danger and hurt the opposition. That's our strength and I want us to keep that strength," he added, warning his players to be wary of a Sweden team "with nothing to lose".

The France coach highlighted Sweden's athleticism, ⁠pace on the counter and threat from set pieces.

"We need to stay humble, maintain our determination and concentration," he said. "In the group stage winning the first game gave us some margin for error, but now we have no second chances."

Left flank a concern

Deschamps returned to the France team's base in Boston on Saturday after missing the 4-1 win against Norway to fly home to attend his mother's funeral.

Les Bleus came into the World Cup as one of the leading contenders to win the trophy, following their triumph in 2018 and defeat on penalties to Argentina in the 2022 final.

They were impressive in the group stage, at least after a shaky first half in their opening game against Senegal, with Kylian ⁠Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise giving them arguably the most devastating attacking unit in the tournament. France's Ousmane Dembélé celebrates after scoring his third goal against Norway.

Yet the left flank has looked less settled. Theo Hernandez has not ‌fully convinced at left back, and Lucas Digne is expected to come into the side against ⁠Sweden, bringing more defensive security and a steadier delivery from wide areas.

Further forward, Bradley Barcola is expected to replace Désire Doué on the left of France's attack, with Deschamps looking for more direct running, pace in transition and natural width on the flank opposite the Olise-Mbappé-Dembélé axis.

The adjustment would not ‌change France's overall balance but could give them a more coherent left side against a Sweden team likely to defend deep, attack at set pieces and look to expose any space behind France's defence, which has sometimes been caught off guard.

The return of ‌William Saliba in central defence will, at least, bring some stability back.

Outscoring Les Bleus?

Sweden arrive as awkward opponents rather than spectacular ones. They finished second in Group F behind the Netherlands, opening with a 5-1 win over Tunisia before being torn apart by the Dutch 5-1 and drawing with Japan 1-1.

However, they have enough physical presence and organisation to make the evening uncomfortable if France lose patience.

The knockout stage is a different test from the group phase, when France were able to overwhelm opponents despite occasional defensive lapses. But the 2022 final against Argentina aside, France have not lost a knockout game at the World Cup since 2014.

Inevitably, their rivals face a similar conundrum: however many goals they score, Les Bleus always look capable of scoring one more.

Mbappé has been France's central figure again, while Dembélé's hat-trick against Norway and Olise's creativity have underlined the depth of attacking options available to Deschamps.

Barcola, Doué, Rayan Cherki, Jean-Philippe Mateta or Marcus Thuram give France the kind of bench power no team can match.

Can Sweden cause an upset?
"I don't buy it. Sweden have Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres and Anthony Elanga. They are not a bad side, ⁠but they are nowhere near France's firepower," former England great Gary Lineker told French sports daily L'Equipe.

"Of course, with four genuine forwards, Les Bleus ⁠could be vulnerable on the counter, as we saw against Norway's second string on Friday, but they will score more goals than the other teams."

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)