Giroud Double As France Relegate Sweden

Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud has edged closer to Thierry Henry's goal-scoring record as France has survived a late rally to relegate Sweden.

Giroud scored 44 goals in each half, seven of them behind the arsenal legend, reports BBC.

Deflected Viktor Claesson fired Sweden ahead, but Giroud's double and full-back goal Benjamin Pavard turned things around.

Robin Quaison's goal gave Sweden some hope but Kingsley Coman sealed the win.

Sweden will now drop into League B.

World Champion France had already qualified for one of the four finals of the League of Nations next year but was behind when Claesson's long-range shot was over Raphael Varane.

Giroud soon equalized, turning to the cross of Marcus Thuram, son of the 1998 World Cup winner Lilian.

Thuram, who made his first competitive start, then weaved into the area and found Bayern Munich right-back Pavard, who fired in.

Giroud added a third after the break from Kylian Mbappe's cross, the Paris St-Germain striker getting an assist 70 seconds after coming on.

Quaison set up an exciting finale when he tapped in but as Sweden pushed everyone - including Everton goalkeeper Robin Olsen - up for a set-piece deep into stoppage-time, France were able to clear and leave Coman to score into an empty net.