Philadelphia: Captain Kylian Mbappe scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot as former champions France edged Paraguay 1-0 to book their place in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals, where they will face Morocco.
France dominated possession for much of the contest but had to work hard to break down a disciplined Paraguayan side that defended resolutely and threatened on the counterattack. The tightly contested encounter remained goalless until the 70th minute, when Mbappe converted a penalty to seal victory.
The opening stages saw both teams struggle to create clear-cut opportunities, with neither side able to establish early control. France gradually grew into the game, enjoying the lion’s share of possession and patiently building attacks, but their final ball often lacked precision.
Paraguay, meanwhile, remained compact in defence and looked dangerous whenever they ventured forward. Their best opportunity of the first half came in the 28th minute when Diego Gomez found space near the French goal, but his effort failed to hit the target.
As the first half progressed, the match became increasingly physical. Paraguayan defenders repeatedly fouled Mbappe in an attempt to curb his influence, leading to heated exchanges between players. Tempers flared on more than one occasion, with confrontations briefly threatening to escalate before officials restored order.
France increased the intensity after the break, with Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele leading a series of attacks. However, Paraguay’s defence continued to frustrate the French forwards, while goalkeeper Orlando Gil produced several impressive saves to keep his side in the contest.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 70th minute when the referee awarded France a penalty after Mbappe was brought down inside the box. The decision was confirmed following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.
Mbappe stepped up confidently and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, calmly converting the spot-kick to hand France the lead.
Paraguay pushed forward in search of an equaliser during the closing stages but failed to create any clear scoring opportunities as France held firm to secure a hard-fought victory.
The result sends France into the quarter-finals, where they will take on Morocco in what promises to be another high-profile World Cup clash.
