A Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise masterclass helped France ease to a 3-0 victory over Sweden in the Round of 32 at the World Cup.

The French started to get control of the game, and Mbappe initially had a goal chalked off for offside. The Real Madrid forward was then denied by the post after a superb attacking move that nearly led to the opener.

Olise nearly scored the Goal of the Tournament in the 35th minute when he attempted a bicycle kick that also hit the post. Ousmane Dembele followed up with a strike that flew just wide of the goal.

Les Bleus finally took the lead in the 45th minute, and Mbappe bagged his fifth goal in four games. He shifted the ball past Viktor Gyokeres after clever build-up play from Olise and Ousmane Dembele before firing past Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.

It took just seven minutes after the restart for Bradley Barcola to make it two-nil, and Olise magicked up a brilliant assist. The Bayern Munich man played the ball through Gustaf Lagerbielke’s legs, and Barcola found the back of the net.

A special third came in the 73rd minute, and Deschamps’ men created one of the best attacking moves you’ll see. Olise was again right in the thick of things with a slick pass to Mbappe, who drew level with Lionel Messi at the top of the goalscoring charts.

Match Highlights

Still to come…

France Player Ratings

Kyle Ross (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

It’s going to take something special to beat this star-studded France team who have been at their best throughout the tournament. As Patrick Vieira says, ‘this is the Mbappe World Cup ‘, and he was at the peak of his powers in East Rutherford.

In midfield, Adrien Rabiot might have a case for being the most underrated French player in history. The AC Milan midfielder impressed going forward while ensuring the Swedes couldn’t gain momentum in the middle of the park.

If Liverpool scouts were watching tonight’s game, they might be ready to swoop for Bradley Barcola, who put in a fine performance and took his goal well. His pace is a nightmare for defenders, and he might just have permanently displaced PSG teammate Desire Doue.

Everything Olise seems to touch turns to gold, and he is shining in Deschamps’ team. If France go on to win the World Cup, he’ll surely be eyeing the Ballon d’Or.

Sweden Player Ratings

TT News Agency via Reuters

Graham Potter’s side were second best throughout and wasted the limited opportunities that came their way. Yasin Ayari put in a positive performance, looking to cause problems on the counter and forcing the French into a few fouls.

Derby County goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom did his best to prevent Les Bleus from running riot with several decent saves. He could do nothing about Mbappe’s opener that flew past him with pace.

Zetterstrom’s defence couldn’t contain the fearsome French frontline who often left them chasing shadows. Victor Lindelof, in particular, had his work cut out for him after dropping into defence from midfield.

Viktor Gyokeres tried using his strength to give Arsenal teammate William Saliba problems, but an inevitable lack of service prevented him from influencing proceedings. As for Alexander Isak, the Liverpool striker was rarely involved, and on today’s showing he’s not in the same league as Mbappe and Olise.

US President Donald Trump has celebrated the Supreme Court’s ruling against transgender women playing in women’s sport, calling it a “big win.”

A 6-3 Supreme Court ruling issued on Tuesday (June 30th) allows states to ban transgender student-athletes from competing in female sports. This prohibits transgender athletes from joining girls’ and women’s teams at public schools and universities.

The ruling focused on the cases of Lindsay Hecox, a college student in Idaho, and Becky Pepper-Jackson, a 15-year-old high school student from West Virginia. It’s expected to have a sweeping impact because Idaho and West Virginia’s prohibitions against transgender athletes are replicated in 25 other states.

Trump Calls Court Ruling ‘Big Win’

Credit: Aaron Schwartz / Pool/Sipa USA

Trump took to Truth Social to give his verdict on the ruling and a situation he views as “ridiculous.” The president wrote:

Trump made a ban on transgender people a central pillar of his 2024 campaign, and critics believe the ruling is a major blow to transgender rights. The justices are, however, divided on the separate issue of whether the bans violate federal law.

The nine justices decided that the bans do not violate a civil rights law called Title IX. This prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools and was enacted in 1972 to ensure equal opportunities in academics and athletics and to address sexual harassment.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh said that state legislatures and schools were “better equipped” and “the more appropriate entities” to assess competing medical and scientific considerations. The ruling received responses from civil rights organisations, elected officials and athletes, with some, including Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black, claiming it continues “attacks on transgender young people” which “must stop.”

Trump View on Transgender Women in Women’s Sport

Amber Searls via Imagn Images

Trump has long campaigned for banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports. He vowed to defend women from “gender ideology extremism.”

The US president signed an Executive Order last year aiming to clearly define male and female and the biological reality of two sexes. He vowed to defend women and said that “you just ban it. You just don’t let it happen.”

The White House claims that the majority of American people “overwhelmingly agree with Trump.” They state that “roughly seven in 10 Americans oppose men (transgender) in women’s sports.”

The Supreme Court previously backed Trump-enforced restrictions on trans people. This includes a Pentagon policy banning trans people from serving in the military.

Arsenal have accepted an offer for one of their important players this summer, as Turkish outlet Sporx reports that an exit could be just around the corner.

The Gunners are looking at the possibility of some sales over the course of the transfer market, with the squad featuring plenty of quality and depth in almost every position.

In the midfield, Christian Norgaard has been linked with an exit, while the left wing has been another area of consideration for a possible move out of the door.

Gabriel Martinelli has been linked with plenty of interest, but it seems as though it could be Leandro Trossard who makes a transfer away from Arsenal before the window slams shut.

Arsenal Accept Leandro Trossard Bid

As Trossard enters the final year of his contract with Arsenal, several teams have been showing interest in a deal to sign the 31-year-old this summer.

Among those most interested is Besiktas, as the club have made it clear that they wish to land the Belgian international as a marquee signing on the market.

With recent rumours surrounding an exit, Turkish outlet Sporx claims that Arsenal have accepted a €20 million (£17.2 million) bid from Besiktas to allow Trossard to leave the club.

The final decision is now down to the experienced forward, as the report claims that there is also intense interest from Saudi Arabia with some clubs looking to use their financial muscle to get a deal done.

Any final call on his future may come in the next few weeks, as Trossard is currently away on international duty with Belgium at the 2026 World Cup.

The 31-year-old has already scored two goals and assisted once for the Red Devils during a challenging campaign so far, which continues with a clash against Senegal in the round of 32.

A decision could follow his side’s exit, whenever that may be. For now, though, his future seemingly remains up in the air.

Trossard Has Been Key For Arsenal

Since signing him from Brighton back in January 2023, Trossard has been nothing short of a key star for Arsenal whenever the team needed some inspiration.

Be it his impact from the start or from the bench, the Belgian star offered plenty of quality and versatility without any question of where his place in the team may be.

That selflessness, and his ability to arrive in the most important moments, has cemented his place as an icon for years to come. His 174 appearances have been made with 36 goals and 34 assists.

At times, he has been the scorer Arsenal needs. At other points, he has been the one to set them up. While there may be stars who can add even more quality, Trossard has been nothing short of an immense signing.

Replacing him will be tough, but if Arsenal can recoup some money for an experienced star entering the final year of his deal, then it may prove to be an even better bit of business.