Published on: 07/04/2026 - 9:32 p.m. Modified on: 07/05/2026 - 02:10
France and Paraguay faced each other in the round of 16 of the World Cup in the stifling heat of Philadelphia. Widely favored, the Blues and their offensive armada struggled to bring down the solid defense of Albirroja. Relive the meeting thanks to our live commentary.
The official lines of Paraguay - France
Paraguay: Gill – Velazquez, Alderete, J. Caceres, J. Alonso, G. Gomez (cap.) – D. Gomez, Almiron, A. Cubas, Galarza – Enciso.
France: Maignan – Koundé, Saliba, Upamecano, Digne – M. Koné, Rabiot – O. Dembélé, Olise, Barcola – Mbappé (cap.).
See you tomorrow for two beautiful posters!
First Brazil - Norway (10 p.m.), then Mexico - England (2 h)
To be continued on France 24.
Deschamps: “We did what was necessary”
"It wasn't easy. They play with all possible resources. It's perhaps not football that will bring people to the stadium. There is aggressiveness, that adds to it," declared the coach on M6.
"We didn't get out of our match. It's difficult, there's density, they know how to defend well. Obviously the temperature goes against the intensity and they, without intensity, defended well. It's a great step forward. It's always complicated against these South American teams," continued Deschamps.
“We were in difficulty but we did what we had to do to be in the quarter,” he said.
French fans in the USA disappointed with the arbitration
Antoine Besse/France 24
Mbappé did not fall into the trap
By dint of provocations, the French attacker could have twisted, but he preferred to laugh about it
Paraguay did not take a card for the first time since 1998
What irony!
Deschamps also criticizes arbitration
“I was especially afraid for Mbappé and I asked the strong guys to supervise him at the end of the match”, on BeIn
The match summary
Mbappé: “We know how to play dirty football”
“They thought we would come in tuxedos, but we also know how to play dirty football,” quips Mbappé at the BeIn Sports Microphone.
"We knew what type of match we were going to have. We showed that we were a team that didn't only know how to play attacking football. If we have to 'put our hands in the shit we're going to put our hands in the shit', sorry for the expression",
It's finished!!!! The Blues in the quarter-finals
It was very tense, but it passed through pain.
And Olise warned...
Three yellow cards for France, none for Paraguay. We don't like to criticize refereeing, but sometimes....
Gill stops Mbappé twice!
It’s hot for Maignan!
He recovers a header behind Digne and has to lie down under pressure from a Uruguayan
Kounde on the ground
Well, it's not a big mistake, but the referee doesn't even see it.
10 more minutes to wait
However, it was not the cards that added additional time
Attention !! Maignan is coming out well
Too many balls left in Paraguay, and Mauricio's could have been dangerous, but the French goalkeeper catches it well
Mbappé strike!
It's on target but pushed back by Gill
Great intervention from Maignan
Be careful not to lose concentration
Entrance to Cherki
He replaces Dembélé. An ideal profile to make the opponent run
And Koné receives a yellow
He is logically warned for a late intervention on Caceres. Is Albirroja’s incessant provocation finally paying off?
The Blues as favorites
The French team faces the surprising Paraguay this Saturday in Philadelphia to secure its place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup. With a perfect run in the groups and a demonstration against Sweden in the 16th round (3-0), the Blues approach this meeting with the status of big favorites. Carried by a formidable attacking trio composed of Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembélé, the French selection intends to use its offensive power to continue its road towards a third world title.
The rigor of Paraguay
For its part, Paraguay approaches this clash without complexes after creating the sensation of the tournament by eliminating Germany on penalties in the 16th round. If the Albirroja seems on paper less armed than the French machine, Didier Deschamps and his players are wary of this South American team, renowned for its combativeness and defensive rigor.
For this challenge, the Blues will however have to cope without Aurélien Tchouaméni, a last minute withdrawal due to thigh discomfort felt during training. He should be replaced by Manu Koné alongside Adrien Rabiot in midfield.
More storms?
Beyond the tactical opposition, the extreme weather conditions on the American east coast could disrupt this meeting. The players will have to brave stifling heat of 37°C combined with high humidity, as well as the risk of violent storms which could disrupt the game, as was already the case for the French in the first round against Iraq.
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