Gary Neville says France are “a level above” any other team at the World Cup after they cruised to a 3-0 win against Sweden in the round of 32.
Les Bleus captain Kylian Mbappe scored twice in New York New Jersey – with the Sky Sports pundit adding the forward was “on the verge of greatness” as he went level with Lionel Messi in the tournament’s Golden Boot race.
Mbappe and Michael Olise were scintillating throughout, giving Graham Potter’s side little hope of pulling off a shock. France’s win means they set up a tie with the Germany-beating Paraguay in the last 16 on Saturday in Philadelphia – but Neville sees few beating Didier Deschamps’ team.
He said on ITV Sport: “It’s a real statement. We know they’re the favourites for the tournament, but what we saw was precision, devastation.
“I always look at games from a defensive perspective – those four [attacking players: Mbappe, Olise, Dembele and Barcola] that started the game will cause nightmares for every single defender at this tournament and I don’t know how you stop that.
Kylian Mbappe scored twice to book France’s place in the last 16 of the World Cup
“It’s a level above. Brazil won in the last minute, Germany and the Netherlands went out. They’re just showing everybody in this round how to do it.
“Everything they do is emphatic. It’s brilliant to watch and it’s the best performance so far in the tournament.
“There’s a long way to go, but you’re looking at them now thinking ‘you’ll let yourselves down if you don’t win this’ because they’re so far ahead of every other team in terms of level.”
Kylian Mbappe is ‘on the verge of greatness’ says Gary Neville as France beat Sweden
Mbappe scored in either half, sandwiched between a Bradley Barcola goal. Neville was effusive of his praise for the France skipper at half-time – even before he turned home another beauty.
“Watching Mbappe in that first half, he reminds me of the Brazilian Ronaldo. It’s utterly petrifying,” he added. “The little shimmy. It’s devastating.
“Patrick [Vieira] said the other day this is the Mbappe World Cup and I completely agree. He’s just a level above. He’s on the verge of greatness.”
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