France celebrated with exuberance upon securing their spot in the quarter-finals. The entire team rushed from the center of the field to the stands at Philadelphia Stadium, where their supporters gathered. The scene was filled with jubilant embraces and triumphant shouts, led by the ever-energetic Kylian Mbappé.
Once the festivities quieted, the French captain addressed the media, framing the match as more of a struggle than a conventional game. He noted the challenges posed by a Paraguay team that persisted in disrupting their flow. “We knew what kind of match we were going to have,” Mbappé remarked. “But we know how to get our hands dirty.”
Didier Deschamps, France’s coach, provided a more measured analysis of the encounter. “It was a tough game but, as I said to the players, we’ve had easy games so far. It is good to face a tough one,” he stated.
He continued, “I have prepared the players, they were expecting this game. I do not want to criticise Paraguay; each team plays the way they want. We looked at playing football but the opponent did what they wanted to do. Playing low block requires less effort. But even in today’s heat we should have played faster in transition.”
While acknowledging Paraguay’s effective tactics, particularly the performance of the notably resilient Matías Galarza, it became evident that the narrative of the match leaned towards France’s struggle. This outing marked the least convincing performance from the French side in the tournament. They did not register a shot on target until the 55th minute and managed only one additional shot—the decisive penalty—before a final push saw Mbappé thwarted by Paraguay’s goalkeeper, Orlando Gill, on three occasions during extended stoppage time.
France finished the match with the fewest shots on target and the lowest expected goals (xG) of their tournament, including the penalty. Paraguay, employing a five-man defense and a compact midfield, effectively limited the space available to the French attackers, rendering even skilled players like Michael Olise unable to create opportunities. Both Ousmane Dembelé and Bradley Barcola struggled throughout the match, unable to find their rhythm, and Morocco, their next opponent, will likely find this disjointed performance intriguing, given their own capability to stifle games.
There were indeed external factors influencing the match. Spectators noted the extreme heat, with temperatures soaring to 38C, which led Philadelphia to cancel some of its Fourth of July festivities. This heat likely played a more significant role in the match’s outcome than any disruption from Paraguay. From the onset, France found it challenging to maintain a high tempo, particularly with the pitch fully exposed to the sun.
Ultimately, France resorted to relying on moments of brilliance to secure their victory. Their star players, especially Mbappé, tried to tackle challenges individually. They won the game in this manner, thanks in part to Désiré Doué’s impressive run into the box, which drew a careless foul from Paraguay’s captain, Gustavo Gómez. Although referee Ilgiz Tantashev missed the foul, VAR stepped in to award a penalty, which Mbappé calmly converted.
Doué, representing PSG, delivered arguably his best performance of the tournament, despite being limited to the last 30 minutes after coming off the bench. This aspect may be one of the most significant takeaways from the match. France faced a formidable tactical challenge, compounded by frustrating opponents, and under harsh conditions. They did not perform at their best and created few chances; however, it’s worth noting they did not concede any goals either. For the first time in the tournament, they needed to look to their bench for solutions, and it proved effective.
Paraguay, through their various strategies, succeeded in dulling France’s edge in Philadelphia, similar to how Cape Verde had managed against Argentina the previous night. This removal of France’s aura of invincibility could benefit the tournament overall. Deschamps’s team will need to elevate their performance against Morocco in Boston on Thursday. Nevertheless, this experience has also highlighted the full extent of France’s capabilities. They can secure victories with finesse or through critical moments, which can arise from unexpected sources.
- World Cup 2026
- France
- Paraguay
- World Cup
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