Kylian Mbappé scored his 19th career World Cup goal as France survived stifling heat to beat Paraguay 1-0 on Saturday, sending the defending champions into the quarter-finals for the fourth straight time.
The match, played in Philadelphia under an extreme heat warning with temperatures hovering around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, was a tense and physical contest against a disciplined Paraguayan side.
France started brightly and controlled much of the possession in the opening exchanges, but Paraguay remained compact and organised, frustrating the French attackers with a solid defensive structure.
The South Americans also attempted to create opportunities on the counterattack, using their pace and direct approach to unsettle France. However, neither side was able to produce a breakthrough in the first half.
France’s growing urgency was evident in the 19th minute when Bradley Barcola received a yellow card as the intensity of the contest increased. In spite of their dominance in possession, France found it difficult to convert their control into clear goalscoring chances.
Paraguay returned for the second half with renewed energy, making tactical adjustments aimed at adding more attacking threat. France also responded by introducing Désiré Doué for Barcola in the 61st minute, a substitution that added fresh movement and creativity to their attacking play.
The pressure from the French side eventually yielded results in the 70th minute when Mbappé converted from the penalty spot to hand his side a deserved lead after sustained attacking efforts.
The goal shifted the momentum of the game, forcing Paraguay to push more players forward in search of an equaliser. However, France remained calm and organised, limiting Paraguay to few meaningful opportunities.
After the final whistle, Mbappé kept on walking and left Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill hanging as Gill extended his right hand in a show of sportsmanship. In response, Gill threw the ball right at the No. 10 on Mbappé’s jersey.
“We knew what kind of match it was going to be,” Mbappé said in French. “We can also get our hands dirty, we know how to do it. We know how to play ugly football. Guess they were thinking we were going to show up in tuxedos, but we were ready.”
France advanced to play Morocco on Thursday in Foxborough, Massachusetts. France beat Morocco 2-0 in the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
For Paraguay, the defeat marked the end of a spirited campaign. Their disciplined display and determination against one of the tournament favourites earned admiration in spite of their elimination.
