Gary Neville has stated that only Argentina currently looks capable of stopping France at the World Cup, given the defending champions' dominant form. France thrashed Sweden 3-0 in the last 32 on Tuesday, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice to reach six tournament goals and Bradley Barcola adding another.
France's Unstoppable Run
Didier Deschamps' side have cruised through the tournament, beating Senegal 3-1, Iraq 3-0, and Norway 4-1 before the Sweden victory. They face Paraguay next, who eliminated Germany but are heavy underdogs against the relentless French attack featuring Mbappe, Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise.
Neville, speaking on ITV, said: 'The only team I can see stopping France right now, because of the mentality, is Argentina. Because of the nastiness and the horribleness and their experience. That's the only team I can see that's got the unity right now that I think could stand in front of France.'
Other Contenders
Neville acknowledged that England, Spain, or Portugal could step up, but currently France are 'so far ahead' of other teams. He added: 'There's a long way to go but you look at them now thinking, you'll have let yourselves down if you don't win this.'
On France's attacking four, Neville said: 'That four that started the game – they will cause nightmares for every single defender in the tournament and I don't know how they stop that to be fair. A level above.'
Argentina's Path
Argentina also swept through their group with three wins and face Cape Verde in the last 32. They are seen as the only team with the mentality to challenge France.
Ian Wright echoed Neville's sentiment, saying: 'France in this form. They'll be more worried about playing against France than they'd be worried about playing Spain or Portugal. It's only if France have a total capitulation, which I can't see, for them to [not] go on to win it. I can't see what's stopping them at the minute.'
France's potential quarter-final opponent would be Canada or Morocco, with a semi-final likely against Spain or Portugal.
