Le Havre (AFP)

The United States walked on a Swedish team (2-0) already qualified and largely overhauled, Thursday in Le Havre, a new show of worrying strength for Spain, his opponent in the round of 16 of the World Cup ... and for France, perhaps the next on the list.

After slapping Thailand (13-0) and dominating Chile (3-0), saved from a bigger shipwreck by his excellent goalkeeper, "Team USA" made speak its power in the Norman port, land of record: with 18 goals scored in the group stage, she dropped the previous mark of Norway vintage 1995 (17 goals).

The American gold-diggers, more than ever pretenders to their succession, rushed to the opposing goal of entry and, on the first action, sanctioned the Swedish passivity on a corner taken full axis by Lindsey Horan (3rd, 1 -0).

The tone was set, and the story was repeated after the locker room with a winning shot by Tobin Heath (50th, 2-0), validated after video assistance.

The partners of Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, both back in the starting lineup, have done a constant clean-up that has stifled Swedes yet brave and skillful ball at the foot.

But it was not only about intensity. The American panoply was also rich in tactical rigor, speed of execution and technical accuracy.

The attacking midfielder Samantha Dewis (2 goals and 2 assists in the tournament) has played this trifecta well, chaining delicious cross to reverse the game and do not hesitate to shoot (15th).

- France-USA in a quarter? -

Paradoxically, it is the Swedes who have procured the most opportunities, not discouraged by the opening of the fastest score of the Mondial-2019.

The American fans present en masse at the Océane stadium will see perhaps the glass half full: it was the opportunity for the keeper Alyssa Naeher, very little solicited until then, to warm the gloves on a few strikes (15th, 21st, 56e) or a center (45e + 1) a little dangerous.

The most pessimistic among them will say that the defense of "Stars and Stripes", in the absence of his sentinel Julie Ertz (hindrance to a hip), was not the all-risk insurance.

What is the level of the American rearguard? This is the question at $ 1,000 after this first round, where she made three clean sheets (zero goal conceded) but facing a low opposition, if not by sequences against Sweden.

This may be the case Monday (18H00) in Reims against Spain in the round of 16.

Logic would like the United States to easily get rid of the Spanish obstacle and find in the quarter-final the host country, France, if the Blue also managed to qualify against Brazil, Sunday (21H00) in Le Havre .

It was in this same city that France and the United States clashed for the last time in January. The girls of Corinne Deacon had won 3-1, but it was only a preparation match for the World Cup. Serious things are now.

Sweden will play his side of the 8th finals against Canada, Monday (21H00) in Paris.

? 2019 AFP