Mbappe settles the battle of wills as France quarter a resilient Paraguay

After 70 minutes, Paraguay looked capable of producing another World Cup shock. They soaked up wave after wave of French pressure, frustrated Kylian Mbappe and co. But when the decisive moment arrived, the French talisman stepped forward. Mbappe calmly slotted home a penalty after Desire Doue was fouled in the penalty area to give Didier Deschamps’ side a generous 1-0 victory and progress to the quarter-finals against Morocco.

It was a victory built less on flair than stamina, with France forced to crush one of the tournament’s most stubborn opponents before Mbappe’s seventh World Cup goal finally settled the absorbing knockout clash.

(more to follow)

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Issued by:

Amar Panicker

Published on:

05 Jul 2026 04:52 IST