Unstoppable France emulate Brazil 2002 with remarkable attacking record | OneFootball

There is no stopping this France side, Les Bleus beat Sweden 3-0 and are through to the World Cup 2026 round of 16, having reached this stage with impressive attacking numbers.

The Swedes were defeated by a Kylian Mbappé brace (with the Real Madrid man up to six in the tournament so far) while Bradley Barcola also got on the scoresheet.

The 13 goals scored by Didier Deschamps' side in just four matches represent the best attacking record by any national team since 2002. In other words, it has been 20 years since a team last scored so many goals in so few matches at a World Cup.

The last team to score 13 goals in their first four matches at a World Cup was Brazil. That year, the Seleção dominated the group stage — 2-1 win against Turkey, 4-0 against China and 5-2 against Costa Rica — before beating Belgium 2-0 in the round of 16.

What's more, history is encouraging for France, as the Brazilian side went on to end the 2002 tournament with the title in their hands – their fifth in history.

The French meanwhile are chasing their third title after having finished runners-up in 2022 and having won it in 2018. That vintage Brazil team followed the same pattern too – winning in 1994 and finishing second (after being beaten by France) in 1998 before reclaiming it the following tournament.