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On Tuesday, there were contrasts during the : France crushed Sweden with a decisive 3-0, Mexico comfortably dispatched Ecuador at the Azteca, and Norway made a splash by defeating Ivory Coast 2-1 in Dallas.
France 3-0 Sweden
Kylian Mbappé was the standout player in the match held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he scored in the 45th minute and again in the 74th to achieve a brace that made him the top scorer of the tournament with six goals, tying with Lionel Messi.
Bradley Barcola extended the lead in the 53rd minute with an assist from Michael Olise, who was the creative engine of the team managed by Didier Deschamps throughout the match.
The Swedish goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström prevented a more significant defeat with nine saves, though he could do nothing against the French superiority.
In the round of 16, France will face Paraguay on July 4 in Philadelphia. The South Americans reached this stage after eliminating Germany in penalties (3-4) in the previous match.
Mexico 2-0 Ecuador
El Tri reinforced its great moment in the tournament with a resounding victory over Ecuador at Estadio Azteca, with goals from Julián Quiñones in the 22nd minute and Raúl Jiménez in the 31st, both substituted in the 80th minute.
The team of Javier Aguirre was dominant from start to finish and never allowed Ecuador to find answers, in what was the first World Cup encounter between both teams in 24 years.
The expulsion of Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapié in the 94th minute sealed the match. The Arsenal player was penalized for covering his mouth while speaking with Santiago Giménez, violating the new FIFA rule known as the "Prestianni Law," which prohibits that gesture to ensure transparency in communications on the field.
With this victory, Mexico advanced to the round of 16 and became the first CONCACAF team to eliminate a CONMEBOL opponent in a knockout round of a World Cup.
Ivory Coast 1-2 Norway
Norway returns to the World Cup round of 16 for the first time since France 1998, 28 years later, following a hard-fought victory over Ivory Coast at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
Antonio Nusa opened the scoring in the 46th minute, but Amad Diallo equalized for the African team in the 74th. The decisive blow was delivered by Erling Haaland in the 86th minute, when he took advantage of the only clear chance he had to seal the match.
Ivory Coast dominated much of the match with greater possession and several chances in the opponent's area, but lacked the decisiveness to maintain the tie in the final minutes.
With this, Haaland reached five goals in the tournament, tying with Mbappé and trailing one behind Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. The Manchester City striker is chasing Messi on the top scorers list alongside the French captain.
Norway will face a major challenge ahead: the confirmed matchup against Brazil is scheduled for July 5 at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.
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