Paraguay successfully limited the two-time champions to very few opportunities until substitute Desire Doue was fouled in the box by Brighton’s Diego Gomez. Following a video assistant referee (VAR) review, referee Ilgiz Tantashev awarded a penalty.
Kylian Mbappe confidently took the penalty, sending Orlando Gill the wrong way and securing France’s advancement. This goal also tied him with Argentina’s legendary Lionel Messi in the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot, each with seven goals.
The match kicked off in sweltering heat, with temperatures reaching 38°C, but this did not deter France, who asserted control over possession right from the start.
Despite France’s dominance, Paraguay’s defense proved tough to penetrate, leading to frustration evident in the 36th minute when Mbappe reacted after a foul by Andres Cubas.
Gustavo Alfaro’s squad, fresh off their penalty shootout upset against Germany in the previous round, defended tenaciously during a cautious first half that concluded goalless, with neither team managing a shot on target.
After halftime, France displayed increased urgency, finally forcing Gill into a save with Manu Kone’s long-range attempt in the 54th minute—this marked their first shot on target.
The breakthrough came when Doue replaced Bradley Barcola on the left wing. Just four minutes after entering the game, the 21-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward charged into the box, skillfully evading a Paraguay defender. Gomez fouled him, setting the stage for Mbappe to secure France’s place in the quarter-finals.
This knockout match highlighted the contrasting styles of the two teams. France’s fluid attacking play faced off against a Paraguay side that aimed to disrupt their rhythm with physicality, aggression, and solid defensive organization.
Breaking down Paraguay’s defense proved challenging for Didier Deschamps’ team, resulting in only the third World Cup knockout match since 1966 that featured no first-half shots on target.
Once again, Mbappe emerged as the key player, propelling Les Bleus into the last eight while sending the South Americans home. He maintained his composure from the penalty spot after Doue’s impressive footwork drew the foul, even amid frustrations from some refereeing decisions.
Alfaro’s team committed 13 fouls without receiving a booking, while France accumulated three yellow cards after committing 11 fouls.
At just 27 years old, Mbappe now boasts an impressive tally of 19 World Cup goals across 19 matches, as he pursues Messi, who has set the all-time record at 20 goals during this tournament.
The last encounter between these two teams in the World Cup also resulted in a tightly contested last-16 match in 1998, when France hosted the tournament. Laurent Blanc scored a golden goal to defeat Paraguay, leading to Captain Deschamps lifting France’s first World Cup trophy just two weeks later.
Now, 28 years later, Deschamps finds himself in a different role, hoping for history to repeat itself as his team takes another step closer to glory.
Looking ahead, France will head to Boston to face Morocco, who triumphed over co-hosts Canada 3-0, in the quarter-finals on Thursday, July 9 (21:00 BST). Meanwhile, Paraguay exits this tournament but will return for the 2030 World Cup, where they are set to host one of the opening matches to celebrate the tournament’s centenary.
