French newspaper L'Equipe awarded Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev a score of 1/10 in its post-match ratings, asserting he "completely ruined the match". The publication criticized Tantashev for being overly lenient towards Paraguay's aggressive tactics, noting he failed to issue any yellow cards despite their repeated fouls aimed at disrupting France's attacks.

Referee Ilgiz Tantashev shows a yellow card to Michael Olise during France's 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the 2026 World Cup round of 16 at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, on 4/7. Photo: AP

Following the match, Tantashev's officiating drew further criticism from experts. German referee Patrick Ittrich, speaking on Magenta TV, labeled it "the worst performance by a 2026 World Cup referee" and suggested his Uzbek counterpart was "overwhelmed" by the game's intensity.

Ittrich stated that Tantashev overlooked numerous fouls by Paraguay, particularly those targeting Kylian Mbappe and other French attackers. Paraguay committed 13 fouls without receiving a single yellow card during the 90 minutes. Only assistant coach Gonzalez was cautioned for his reaction after the match concluded. Conversely, three French players—Bradley Barcola, Manu Kone, and Michael Olise—received yellow cards.

Opta reported that this marked the first time since their 1998 World Cup match against Nigeria that Paraguay completed a World Cup game without receiving any cards. "That's incredible," Ittrich remarked, adding, "I kept shaking my head throughout the match because the referee did not adequately address Paraguay's challenges."

French players also voiced their frustration. Midfielder Rayan Cherki sarcastically commented, "I don't know how Paraguay can commit 30 fouls without receiving a single yellow card." Following the match, Mbappe also addressed the opponent's aggressive style. "They thought we would wear tuxedos to play," the France captain stated. "If we need to play tough, we know how to do that."

Ilgiz Tantashev, born in 1984 in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, began his career as an assistant referee in 2008. He later became a main referee in the Uzbekistan National Championship and officiated matches in India and Saudi Arabia. Tantashev has been on the FIFA referee list since 2013, having officiated numerous tournaments for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), including the 2019 and 2023 Asian Cups, AFC U23 Asian Cup finals, the 2019 U20 World Cup, and men's football at the Paris 2024 Olympics. FIFA appointed him as a main referee for the 2026 World Cup, alongside two assistant referees, Timur Gaynullin and Andrey Tsapenko, both from Uzbekistan. During the 2026 World Cup group stage, Tantashev previously officiated the Scotland - Morocco and Algeria - Austria matches before being assigned the Paraguay - France round of 16 fixture.

Referee Ilgiz Tantashev shows a yellow card to a member of Paraguay's coaching staff after France's 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the 2026 World Cup round of 16 at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, on 4/7. Photo: AP

Regarding player ratings, L'Equipe named center-back William Saliba as the man of the match with 7 points. The French publication lauded the Arsenal defender's situational awareness, covering speed, and positioning, despite him experiencing minor back discomfort post-match. Four French personnel—Mike Maignan, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Digne, and coach Didier Deschamps—each received 6 points. Maignan, though rarely tested, demonstrated composure in aerial challenges, while Upamecano largely prevailed in duels against Julio Enciso.

Conversely, Bradley Barcola received France's lowest rating with 3 points, following a subdued performance that led to his early second-half substitution. Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise both earned 4 points, while Kylian Mbappe received 5 points. The France captain faced numerous fouls before converting the decisive penalty in the 70th minute.

For Paraguay, goalkeeper Orlando Gill and center-back Omar Alderete each received the highest scores with 6 points. Gill made multiple saves, notably denying Mbappe's shots three times. Forward Julio Enciso earned 5 points for his determined performance, despite operating largely in isolation up front.

Paraguay's average rating was 4,5, lower than France's 5,1 in a match where Didier Deschamps' team struggled to secure their quarter-final berth. France will now face Morocco in the quarter-finals at 3h on Friday 10/7, Hanoi time.

By Hoang An (Source: L'Equipe, OneFootball)