France see off Paraguay in intense match to quality for quarter-finals

After becoming the first team to ever beat Germany on penalties in a WC fixture, Paraguay unashamedly set about stifling France’s free-wheeling, star-studded side that had, until now, steamrollered all they had faced.

Through a combination of organisation, hard work, and the dark arts, the South American side frustrated the two-time WC winners during a niggly first half that boiled with an undercurrent of aggression.

The tone was set within the first 20 minutes, as Didier Deschamps’ men enjoyed over 80% possession and completed over six times more passes than their opponents, but failed to register a single shot at goal.

Led by the ever-busy Julio Enciso, who harried and busied the French defenders throughout the first half, La Albirroja limited their opponents to just five shots at goal in the opening period, and the match became just the third WC knockout game since 1966 not to feature a shot on target in the first half.

The epitome of France’s frustration came just after the half-hour mark, as Mbappe lost his cool after being bundled to the ground by Andres Cubas, with the Real Madrid star reacting and sparking a 20-man scuffle.

With the temperature rising to a sizzling 39 degrees at the start of the second half, the threat posed by Les Bleus was also growing, as Manu Kone forced Orlando Gill into his first stop of the game as the goalkeeper tipped over a long-range effort.

Eventually, the introduction of Desire Doue on the hour mark proved pivotal, as six minutes after coming on, the Paris Saint-Germain forward danced around three players into the box, where he was brought down by Diego Gomez.

Unfazed by Paraguay’s gamesmanship in trying to delay the taking of the penalty, Mbappe then stroked home the penalty low into the corner to break the deadlock.

With the landscape of the match altered, roles were swiftly reversed as France became the great spoilers, replicating Paraguay’s penchant for wasting time and committing tactical fouls.

Mbappe could have doubled his side’s advantage deep into stoppage time were it not for an excellent double save from Gill, but ultimately, France had done enough to pass their sternest test yet at this WC, with a different and more severe challenge expected against Morocco on Thursday.