France Advances
France secures World Cup quarterfinal spot with late Mbappé penalty against Paraguay
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France edged past Paraguay 1-0 in the World Cup round of 16, booking a quarterfinal spot against Morocco. The win was anything but convincing — France managed just one shot on target through most of the match before Kylian Mbappé stepped up to seal the result from the penalty spot in the 70th minute, according to Idaho Statesman.
Paraguay frustrated Les Bleus for long stretches and largely controlled the tempo. France's attack was quiet and disjointed, especially in the first half. In the end, a single kick from the world's most expensive player was enough to advance.
Mbappé Converts Penalty to Break Deadlock at 70 Minutes
The decisive moment came in the 70th minute. Young French forward Désiré Doué, just 21 years old, won a penalty after drawing a foul inside the box. Mbappé stepped up and converted it cleanly, giving France a 1-0 lead it would not surrender, The News Tribune reported.
That penalty was France's clearest moment of quality all game. Outside of that chance, France created very little. The defending champions looked sluggish going forward and never truly threatened to put the game to bed with a second goal, according to Charlotte Observer.
Paraguay Dominated Stretches but Could Not Capitalize
Paraguay was no pushover. The South American side matched France physically and spent long periods dictating the flow of the match. Their defensive shape was tight and disciplined, making it difficult for France's forwards to find space in behind.
Despite their strong showing, Paraguay failed to convert their pressure into goals. They could not find a finishing touch when it mattered most. The loss ends their World Cup run, and they exit having pushed one of the tournament favorites to the limit, Sacramento Bee noted.
Doué Emerges as France's Brightest Spark in Tough Win
If there was a bright spot for France, it was Désiré Doué. The 21-year-old was lively and direct throughout. His willingness to take on defenders and drive into the box created the key moment of the match — the foul that led to the penalty, according to Bellingham Herald.
Doué's emergence gives France an exciting option heading into the quarterfinals. His energy and directness offer something different from the more experienced names in the squad. France will need more from him and others if they want to beat Morocco and push deeper into the tournament.
France Faces Morocco Next in the Quarterfinals
France now turns its attention to Morocco, a team that has been one of the stories of this World Cup. Morocco has been organized, hard to break down, and dangerous on the counter. It will be a significant step up from what France faced against Paraguay.
France's performance against Paraguay will raise questions about whether this team has enough in the tank to go all the way. They got through — but only just. Mbappé remains the difference-maker, and France will need him firing on all cylinders in the next round, Charlotte Observer reported.
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