VAR Penalty Decides Match
Gustavo Alfaro Proud of Paraguay's World Cup Effort, Reflects on VAR Penalty Loss to France
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Paraguay fell 1-0 to France in the World Cup round of 16, knocked out by a VAR-awarded penalty after a tense and closely fought match. Miami Herald reported that Argentinian manager Gustavo Alfaro praised his players despite the defeat, saying he could not be objective about the penalty decision that ended their run.
France's Desire Doue went down under a challenge inside the box. The referee initially waved play on, but changed his mind after being called to review the monitor. France converted the spot kick and advanced to the quarterfinals with the narrow 1-0 victory.
Alfaro Praises Paraguay But Stays Silent on Penalty
Alfaro stopped short of criticizing the referee after the match. "I cannot be objective on that," he said, referring to the VAR decision. He acknowledged the emotions were too raw to weigh in fairly on a call that cost his side any chance of advancing, according to News Observer.
The Paraguayan coach, who is Argentinian, said pride was his dominant feeling despite the loss. He spoke about how far his team had come in the tournament and what the run had meant for the country. He did not place blame on officials for the result.
How the VAR Penalty Unfolded Against Paraguay
France forward Desire Doue challenged inside the Paraguay box. Contact was made, and Doue hit the ground. The on-field referee let play continue. Then VAR flagged the incident and summoned the referee to the pitchside monitor, according to Sun Herald.
After reviewing the footage, the referee reversed his call and pointed to the spot. France scored from the penalty to take a 1-0 lead. Paraguay could not find an equalizer and were eliminated. It was the only goal of the match.
France Move Into Quarterfinals With Tight Win
France's 1-0 win was hard-fought. Paraguay made things difficult for one of the tournament's top sides. The single penalty goal was enough to send France through to the last eight, Idaho Statesman reported. It was far from a comfortable victory for the French.
Alfaro said he wanted to push the team further in the tournament and expressed belief in what Paraguay could achieve. The loss ends that run. France will now face a quarterfinal opponent as they push deeper into the competition.
Alfaro's Future as Paraguay Manager Now Uncertain
Beyond the result, Alfaro left questions about his future unanswered. He expressed uncertainty about whether he would continue as manager of the Albirroja, the nickname for Paraguay's national team, according to Kansas. He gave no clear answer on his plans after the tournament exit.
The manager's contract situation was not clarified in his post-match comments. Alfaro has led Paraguay through a notable World Cup campaign. Whether he stays on to build on that run remains to be seen. His parting words focused on pride, not on what comes next.
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