STOCKHOLM (AP) – Kylian Mbappé scored the winning goal in France’s 1-0 win over Sweden in the League of Nations on Saturday.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward’s 14th foreign goal came here in the 41st minute, but it could have been more comfortable for France, only Antoine Griezmann took a penalty right at the end, Griezmann’s third consecutive missed penalty for France.
Mbappé intervened from the left and, after being tackled first, retrieved Kristoffer Olsson’s ball, pretended and then curved the ball to the post.
“It is a difficult match and we fight. It is not easy . . . it may be better in the future,” Mbappé said. The most important thing is the result. “
It’s a complete end for Mbappé, after his brazen missed chance in a 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League final on 23 August.
French coach Didier Deschamps made his debut at leipzig’s mid-centre, Dayot Upamecano, 21, and recalled Adrien Rabiot in midfield after a long era following his refusal to be on the reserve list for the 2018 World Cup.
Chances were slim in the first half, but veteran Swedish striker Marcus Berg nearly went bankrupted late, when French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris stopped him from running out of line. Moments later, Swedish goalkeeper Robin Olsen pulled the ball out of the net.
“It’s complicated for us, but also for them, ” said Deschamps. “We may have done a little better in the future. “
However, France controlled half the moment, with Mbappé and Griezmann of Barcelona wasting smart opportunities before Lloris repelled an overdue effort by the living Emil Forsberg.
Griezmann then inflicted a poor penalty on the crossbar after replacement Anthony Martial was fouled.
France welcomes Croatia at the Stade de France on Tuesday in a repeat of the World Cup final two years ago, which France won 4-2 with Mbappé among the goalscorers.
In the group’s setting, Croatia lost 4–1 to Portugal, the defending champion of the League of Nations.
Portugal hit the post 3 times before Joo Cancelo’s first game in a time before the break.
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