France is already among the top eight in the world. In a match of high strategic tension played at Lincoln Financial Field, the team led by Didier Deschamps managed to break the resistance of a combative Paraguay by beating them 1-0, sealing their ticket to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup. The encounter, highly contested tactically, was decided by details and individual quality in the second half.
From the opening whistle of Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev, the script of the match was clearly established on the pitch. France assumed absolute protagonism through ball possession, trying to wear down an Albirroja that planted itself on American soil with a very closed defensive scheme, fully betting on a lethal counterattack that never materialized.
Despite territorial dominance, Les Bleus struggled to penetrate and generate real danger during the first forty-five minutes. Clear chances came sparingly and lack of accuracy kept the score level. First, Michael Olise filtered a brilliant long ball for Kylian Mbappé, but the French star failed to control comfortably and the ball went out for a goal kick. Minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé sent a precise cross that Mbappé himself headed poorly in the six-yard box, followed by a wayward shot from Adrien Rabiot over the crossbar.
In the second half, the tone did not change much in the early stages. Rabiot again warned with a shot similar to the one in the first half that went over the goal guarded by Orlando Gill. However, when nervousness began to appear on the French bench, the play that broke the Paraguayan lock came in the 21st minute of the second half.
Substitute Désiré Doué sparked the lamp and sped into the heart of the area surrounded by four Albirroja shirts. Paraguayan midfielder Diego Gómez came out recklessly and ended up bringing down the French attacker. Although play continued initially, the call from VAR was inevitable. Tantashev reviewed the screen at the side of the field and awarded the penalty to the European side. With the quality that characterizes him, Kylian Mbappé took charge of the execution from twelve yards and, with a precise shot, sealed the definitive 1-0.
Despite Paraguay’s desperate attempts at the end of the match, France knew how to tighten up, manage the clock, and secure the result until the final whistle. With this hard-fought victory, the French team advances to the quarterfinals, where they will face a high-caliber clash against Morocco. The African team comes off displaying high-flying football after thrashing co-hosts Canada 3-0, thanks to a brace from Azzedine Ounahi and a goal from Soufiane Rahimi, anticipating an electrifying duel for a place in the semifinals of the biggest event in global football.
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Para mí esto es Francia papá, con jerarquía y el VAR que no se la juega a cualquiera. Paraguay llorando como siempre, no te la jugaron gato. Mbappé es crack y los albirrojos son unos pecho frío que no dan la talla. ¡A llorar a la parca! Francia va a cuartos y Marruecos va a saber lo que es el poderío europeo. ¡Viva la libertad carajo!
para mi la fifa y el var son una mafia che penal re inventado pa q mbappe la ponga paraguay lucho como un equipo del pueblo pero los europeos siempre ganan francia es el imperio vamos marruecos a romperlos ✊