Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020

France vs Sweden missed shots became a quiet but important part of Tuesday’s World Cup Round of 32 match in East Rutherford, where France national football team beat Sweden national football team 3-0 while both sides avoided any yellow or red cards.

France controlled the shot count 25-8, but the final score did not show how many chances were either saved, blocked or sent off target. The official match data also recorded no yellow cards and no red cards, despite France committing 14 fouls and Sweden committing 10.

For more World Cup knockout coverage, read World Cup Round of 32: Haaland, Mbappé And Mexico Headline High-Stakes Tuesday Slate, while official tournament details are available through the FIFA World Cup 2026 page.

France Create Plenty, But Waste Some

France produced 25 total shots, 12 shots on target and nine shots off target. They also missed four big chances, which showed how often Sweden goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström was left exposed by repeated French entries into the penalty area.

Lucas Digne forced an early save after collecting a loose ball from a corner and driving toward the bottom-right corner. FIFA’s match centre described the effort as well directed but lacking enough power to trouble the Sweden goalkeeper fully.

Late in the game, France still kept shooting. Jean-Philippe Mateta fired a left-footed effort over the bar in stoppage time after a cross from Désiré Doué, while Bradley Barcola and Doué also had close-range second-half shots saved.

Sweden’s Chances Stay Limited

Sweden managed eight total shots, with three on target, four off target and four blocked. That told the story of a side that reached dangerous areas at times but rarely found a clear shooting lane.

Viktor Gyökeres had one of Sweden’s better late openings, but Mike Maignan saved his right-footed shot from the centre of the box. Mattias Svanberg also tested Maignan in stoppage time after Anthony Elanga’s assist, but the France goalkeeper held firm.

Svanberg also missed from outside the box in the 86th minute, while Gustaf Nilsson saw a header blocked in the 90+4th minute. Those moments summed up Sweden’s attacking frustration, as their shots arrived too late and under pressure.

Fouls Without Cards

The match had 24 fouls in total, but referee Danny Makkelie kept his cards in his pocket. France committed more fouls than Sweden, yet neither team crossed the line into a booking.

That clean disciplinary record mattered. It meant France advanced without suspension concerns from cards, while Sweden exited without a red-card controversy or late disciplinary collapse.