In Philadelphia, US, substitute Desire Doue earned a penalty, allowing Mbappe to score the sole goal in the 70th minute. This score decided a challenging match for France, who played in hot weather and under tense conditions. Paraguay defended aggressively, consistently employing fouls and provocative actions throughout the game.

Towards the end of the match, Deschamps stated he had instructed his players to protect captain Mbappe, fearing injuries or altercations. "I asked the two biggest and strongest guys to stick close to Kylian at the end of the game, because the opponents were trying to take him out", the France coach said.

Kylian Mbappe (right) smiles as Matias Galarza provokes him during France's 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US on 4/7. Photo: AP

According to Indian Express, central defender Dayot Upamecano and central midfielder Adrien Rabiot were reportedly the two "unwilling bodyguards" mentioned by Deschamps. The coach noted that staying calm against Paraguay was not easy. "They used every tactic. That's not the kind of football that attracts spectators to the stadium, with aggressive play and exaggerating everything", he added.

Mbappe was at the center of clashes with Paraguayan players throughout the match. In the 39th minute, Matias Galarza struck Mbappe with his hand as the French forward entered the penalty area. Later, in the 77th minute, the forward (born in 1998) pushed Caceres from behind, and the Paraguayan defender retaliated with a kick to the shin.

Mbappe primarily responded to opponents with a smile, but occasionally lost his temper. One instance occurred when Andres Cubas fouled him from behind, leading to a shove between them. On the way to the dressing room at half-time, the French captain bumped a Paraguayan player, causing him to fall. When the referee blew the final whistle, Mbappe shouted loudly on the Paraguayan side of the pitch towards the stands. He also refused to shake hands with Orlando Gill, after which the Paraguayan goalkeeper threw the ball at him.

The 28-year-old forward suggested that Paraguay mistakenly believed French players would arrive in "elegant suits" and only play beautiful football. "But we also know how to play rough football. Even in that aspect, France performed better than them", Mbappe stated.

Mbappe opened the scoring from the penalty spot.

Paraguay's playing style subsequently drew significant negative reactions from experts, former players, and global media. However, statistics showed Paraguay committed 12 fouls without receiving any yellow cards, while France committed 11 fouls and received three. According to the French newspaper L'Equipe, the officiating by Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev was problematic, as he failed to keep pace with the intensity of the match.

Despite this, coach Deschamps and Mbappe did not criticize either the referee or their opponents. "Each team plays the way they want, but I don't like insults from the opposing bench", Deschamps stated. "The most important thing is that no trouble occurred after the match, France didn't lose any players, and we advanced".

The 58-year-old coach also believed that the experience gained from this type of match would benefit the French national team, particularly the group of players participating in the tournament for the first time. The events at the Philadelphia stadium starkly contrasted with "Les Bleus'" four relatively easy initial matches in the 2026 World Cup.

France will face Morocco, who defeated co-host Canada 3-0, in the quarterfinals on 9/7 in Boston. Deschamps noted that the team would have a few days to recover, as some players were fatigued and had minor injuries, before meeting one of the tournament's strongest teams.

Goalkeeper Orlando Gill consecutively saved two shots from Mbappe.

Trung Thu (via Reuters)