PHILADELPHIA — Though it wasn’t a flawless performance and took some time to unfold, a penalty kick from Kylian Mbappé in the 70th minute secured a 1-0 victory for France over Paraguay on Saturday, allowing France to progress to the round of 16.
The match was slow to develop in the oppressive summer heat, with both teams exchanging fouls and frustrated words throughout a first half that featured only five total shots and a combined expected goals (xG) of 0.20 (0.05 for Paraguay, 0.15 for France). France was awarded a penalty when Paraguay’s Diego Gomez brought down substitute Désiré Doué inside the box, leading to a lengthy VAR review before referee Ilgiz Tantashev pointed to the penalty spot.
Mbappé stepped up to take the kick, sending goalkeeper Orlando Gill the wrong way and providing the crucial goal. This marked Mbappé’s seventh goal of the tournament, leveling him with Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. It also made him just the second player, alongside Messi, to score seven or more goals in two different World Cups, achieving this milestone in both 2022 and 2026.
Next, France will face Morocco in Boston on Thursday, while La Albirroja returns home with their heads held high.
ESPN’s Gab Marcotti, Rob Dawson, and Julien Laurens analyze the events from Philadelphia.
France Faces a Different Challenge Against Paraguay
After dominating teams like Senegal, Iraq, and a weak Norway B-team, and then dispatching Sweden in the round of 32, facing Paraguay was a different scenario. The Paraguayan team was buoyed by their victory over four-time champions Germany and came determined to replicate that success.
Paraguay employed a low defensive block to stifle France’s attacking stars (Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, and Bradley Barcola) from finding space. They disrupted the game at every opportunity, using physical tackles and taking their time getting up following challenges, all while hoping their speedsters, Miguel Almirón and Julio Enciso, could snag a chance on the counterattack.
All of this unfolded in the sweltering heat of South Philly, where temperatures soared due to a steam dome, making it one of the hottest days in over a decade.
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French coach Didier Deschamps anticipated this matchup. He could have adjusted his lineup and strategy pre-game; he certainly possesses ample options. Yet, as a seasoned veteran, he opted to maintain mostly the same squad, only substituting Manu Koné for the injured Aurélien Tchouaméni, almost challenging his attacking players to figure it out themselves.
This was a tactical test, albeit a low-risk one. The threat of conceding a goal – be it through a moment of brilliance or a controversial decision – hung heavy; if that occurred, France would be in dire straits. Remarkably, Paraguay executed their game plan effectively, remaining compact and physical, preventing France’s star-studded attack from creating scoring opportunities.
The feared quartet of Mbappé, Barcola, Dembélé, and Olise managed only one shot in the opening half. Overall, Les Bleus recorded just five, with a majority stemming from midfielders Koné and Adrien Rabiot resorting to long-range attempts.
Nonetheless, Deschamps allowed his players to adapt amidst rising tensions, trusting them to control their reactions to provocations, which they largely did.
As the hour mark approached, he made the expected substitution of Doué for Barcola, maintaining the same system but bringing in a different style. Just ten minutes later, Doué’s powerful run across the box led to Paraguay conceding a penalty after a VAR review. Mbappé confidently converted the spot-kick.
“We possess attacking quality, but it’s always a challenge against a low block,” Deschamps remarked post-match. “Especially when energy levels dip, as they inevitably do in these conditions.”
From there, it became a matter of managing the game, and France maintained their composure as Paraguay intensified their efforts, resisting the temptation to become undisciplined. The yellow cards shown to Koné and Olise were less than ideal but manageable.
Mbappé commented after the match, “We were aware of the type of match it would be, but we proved we are not just an attacking team. We can adapt and handle the dirty work when necessary; we’re comfortable with that.”
France faced a unique challenge in this World Cup, navigating conditions they had not yet encountered and enduring a tense first half that could have led to insecurity. However, they handled the pressure, and while such a situation may not arise again, they have gained valuable experience for the future. — Marcotti
Assessing Paraguay’s Tactics
Paraguay’s approach of frustrating Germany in the previous round succeeded, and they applied similar tactics against France, remaining effective for 70 minutes before the penalty kick turned the tide.
Every stoppage was prolonged, with every opportunity taken to waste time—one Paraguayan defender even launched the ball into the stands to steal a few more seconds.
They engaged in late tackles, physical confrontations, and their entire bench was animatedly requesting yellow cards after each French foul.
The lack of flow and rhythm might not have pleased neutral spectators, but can Paraguay be held accountable for the quality of play? They attempted a different approach in their opening match against the United States and suffered a hefty 4-1 defeat. Playing expansively against France may have led to an even worse outcome.
Coach Gustavo Alfaro would argue that he must play to the strengths of his roster, asserting that it would be futile to go toe-to-toe against a side boasting some of the finest attacking players globally. Paraguay qualified for the World Cup largely on their strong defensive performance, reverting to a familiar strategy.
Deschamps recognized the potential consequences had his team responded to provocation as Germany did. “Had we reacted like them, it could have ended very poorly. I’m pleased with how my team comported themselves.”
Conversely, Cape Verde‘s head coach, Bubista, pointed out after their 3-2 loss to Argentina that his team could have approached the tournament differently, emphasizing that they maintained minimal foul counts throughout the competition. While not explicitly stated, it implied that Cape Verde aimed to play the game in a more principled manner compared to underdogs that focused on disruption.
There are no definitive right or wrong approaches. The World Cup celebrates the rich diversity of footballing styles and strategies from around the world, and Paraguay’s tactics—whether praised or criticized—earned them a monumental upset against Germany and nearly pulled off another surprise against France. — Dawson
Distinct Parallels with the 1998 Team
If there’s anyone aware that winning is paramount, it’s Deschamps. Influenced by the Italian philosophy emphasizing results, both as a player and manager, the French coach cherishes this victory over Paraguay. His past experiences against South American teams in the knockout stage, especially the defensive-minded ones, inform his strategy profoundly.
In 1998, during the tournament on home soil, Deschamps and his teammates experienced a similar challenge. Just like against Paraguay, they struggled to penetrate the Paraguayan defense and faced a brilliant performance from goalkeeper Jose-Luis Chilavert in Lens under similar heat. It took a golden goal from Laurent Blanc, of all players, to secure their victory in extra time.
This time, France triumphed earlier in the second half, but the comparisons are noteworthy. Deschamps understands that their win against Paraguay was crucial in 1998, serving as a turning point that propelled them toward the title; this experience could similarly benefit the current squad.
Having triumphed over Paraguay, this generation may find the challenge they’ve overcome to be a catalyst for success as they prepare to meet Morocco in the quarterfinals in Boston on Thursday. — Laurens