2026 World Cup: France secures frustrating win over Paraguay with Kylian Mbappé penalty
Key Points:
- France advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals by defeating Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16, despite a challenging match with 76% possession and multiple shots but only one goal.
- Kylian Mbappé scored the lone goal from a penalty in the 70th minute, marking his seventh goal in the tournament and giving him a slight lead in the Golden Boot race over Lionel Messi.
- Paraguay employed a defensive strategy with a five-back formation, successfully limiting France to 15 shots and frustrating their attack, relying on goalkeeper Orlando Gill's strong performance.
- The match featured several fouls and controversial referee decisions, including a questionable yellow card for France's Michael Olise in stoppage time, which could affect his availability in future games.