France edge Paraguay 1-0 in a match that turned into a battlefield of heat and tactics.
The game, played in the sweltering heat of Philadelphia, saw France’s star Kylian Mbappé earn a penalty after a controversial tackle by Paraguay’s Diego Gomez, the moment that sealed the victory for Les Bleus.
Joe Hart, speaking to BBC One, slammed Paraguay’s style, calling their play a “disgraceful” display. The former England goalkeeper noted, “If they were on my team, I’d be dragging them off the pitch.”
Paraguay had earlier shocked the world by knocking Germany out in the last‑32, but turned to a rough, aggressive approach in the second round. Players were seen elbowing, shoving, and making ineffective tackles, with no Paraguayan receiving a booking during the whole 90 minutes.
France managed to stay disciplined; Abdelkader Kone, Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise each received a yellow card, while no Paraguayan faced a yellow.
Referee Ilgiz Tantashev’s performance drew criticism, with detractors saying the officiating missed key fouls and failed to contain Paraguay’s brutality early on. The Uzbek official let the game continue until the VAR review that awarded France the decisive penalty.
France’s manager Didier Deschamps claimed the French side’s “beauty” can coexist with a “fierce” approach. He praised players’ ability to guard Mbappé, especially as the squad faced a tactical onslaught from the South American side.
- Paraguay’s rough tactics: Elbows, shoves, and a collective effort to slow the penalty kick.
- Key moments: Mbappé’s penalty, Phase where players gathered on the pitch-side monitor, and the post‑full‑time scuffle.
- Referee criticism: Missing fouls, no Paraguay cards, and lack of early control.
The match ends with France advancing to face Morocco at Boston Stadium on 21 July, a date set for the opening quarter‑final of the 2026 World Cup.
