Kylian Mbappé maintained his composure despite ongoing provocations from Paraguay, ultimately sealing a hard-fought 1-0 World Cup victory for France on a sweltering Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia.
Following the match, which secured France’s place in the quarterfinals, Mbappé sent a clear message to their competitors, emphasizing that the team is willing to adapt to “ugly” tactics when necessary.
“We anticipated the nature of this match,” Mbappé stated in French. “We are capable of getting our hands dirty, and we understand how to play a more physical style. They might have expected us to show up dressed to the nines, but we were prepared for the challenge.”
Amid an extreme heat warning with temperatures soaring to around 100 degrees, Mbappé finally found a breakthrough against the tough, defensively focused Paraguay team, converting a penalty kick in the 70th minute.
This goal was sufficient for Les Bleus, who were supported by a sea of red, white, and blue fans celebrating Independence Day in the city that marked the birth of the United States 250 years ago.
Mbappé, 27, has netted seven goals in this World Cup, tying him with Lionel Messi, and boasts 19 goals across 19 World Cup matches—just one shy of the Argentine’s record for the most goals in the tournament. He also became the only player to score three or more goals in the knockout stage of three different World Cups.
France midfielder Rayan Cherki, who came off the bench late in the game, echoed Mbappé’s sentiments regarding Paraguay’s physical approach.
“We knew we might showcase our technical and tactical skills less today. We reminded everyone that the French team is not solely about playing beautiful football. If you choose to engage with us in a battle, this is the response you can expect,” Cherki remarked.
The atmosphere remained tense even after the final whistle. Players from both teams congregated around the center circle, leading to Paraguay’s goalkeeper Orlando Gill tossing a ball at Mbappé from behind.
“I attempted to shake his hand, but he ignored me, which made me lose my temper,” Gill explained.
After scoring 13 goals in their opening five matches, France faced a Paraguay team that aimed to turn the game into a more brutal contest.
Following the match, France coach Didier Deschamps acknowledged the challenge: “It wasn’t easy at all. If we had converted one of our chances toward the end, it would have been more comfortable.”
“Paraguay employs every trick in the book. While it may not be the most aesthetically pleasing football, we maintained our focus, which is quite a challenge.”
There were also reports of heated exchanges in Spanish on the field, with Mbappé and Matías Galarza in a verbal skirmish at one moment.
“We fought a battle,” said France defender William Saliba. “And we won the battle.”
With this victory, France moves on to face Morocco in the quarterfinals on Thursday in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Information from ESPN’s Julien Laurens and The Associated Press contributed to this report.