France head coach Didier Deschamps believes his side have justified their status as World Cup favourites after a flawless group-stage campaign.

The French national team come into this fixture after as Group I winners after beating Senegal, Iraq and Norway.

They will be looking to continue their winning run when they take on Sweden in the Round of 32 clash at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Deschamps stressed that France’s perfect record counts for little now, with every match a do-or-die encounter as Les Bleus aim to take another step towards lifting the trophy.

“Even before the tournament, we were among the favourites,” said Deschamps.

“Based on how we’ve played in our three matches [three wins], I don’t think that opinion has changed.

“Our goal is to stay confident. Now, we’re going into a new phase. Even though we’ve never taken nine points from the group stage, it doesn’t give us any extra advantage.

“There are no second chances now, but that doesn’t mean we should play with nerves or hold back.

“It’s part of the game, and the players compete to win and know that there are no second chances.

“With their clubs, there are qualification phases where you still have a safety net. Here, there isn’t one.

“It can require a different approach, but this is what we came for, and now we’re here. The next step is to go out and win.”