France into quarter-finals after 1:0 win over Paraguay – Mbappé signals uncompromising approach against Morocco

Mbappé's pointed words after the game

Mbappé also conceded that France itself was willing to bend the rules of fair play. "They thought we would come to play in a tuxedo, that we would only come to play nice moves and one-twos. We also know how to play dirty football," he said. In football there is no right or wrong, "but only one path: winning" – "Everyone plays with what they have."

Mbappé, who at this World Cup has now scored 19 tournament goals – just one behind record-holder Lionel Messi – was himself involved in several heated duels against Paraguay and was repeatedly targeted. Doué, too, was the victim of a foul that Mbappé commented on not only physically but also verbally.

Numerous fouls and controversial incidents

The match against Paraguay had the character of a physical battle for long stretches. France received three yellow cards in 90 minutes; the losing team, according to sources close to the squad, went unbooked. Mbappé, who has consistently been at the center of bruising duels at previous tournaments, was once again the focal point of numerous confrontations.

Particular focus fell on incidents in which referee Ilgiz Tantashev of Uzbekistan allowed play to continue. According to the article, he punished neither a kick to the shin of a French player nor an elbow to the solar plexus of Dayot Upamecano – actions that the report assessed as worthy of "at least a yellow card, if not a red card." Matias Galarza also caught Mbappé on the shoulder after the ball was gone, without being booked.

Criticism of referee Tantashev

France head coach Didier Deschamps sharply criticized the officiating and the opponent's conduct: "We got three yellow cards, and the others fouled endlessly. Every team plays the way it sees fit, although I could have done without some of the insults from the other side." The coach was referring to verbal abuse directed at his players, which he described in hindsight as unnecessary.

Rayan Cherki, who plays an important role in the French attack, also could not let the discrepancy between fouls and bookings pass without comment. "How many fouls were there, 30, 40? How many yellow cards were there? I have nothing more to say about that," the attacking player declared, summing up Les Bleus' dissatisfaction with the application of the rules.

Paraguay's coach and goalkeeper push back

On the Paraguayan side, goalkeeper Orlando Gill rejected any criticism of his team's physicality. "This is football. If they're not used to it, what am I supposed to do," he said after the game. His coach Gustavo Alfaro likewise defended the uncompromising display: "Our attitude is to fight on the pitch like lions." The elimination was still hard to take: midfielder Matias Galarza cried after the final whistle in the interview area.

Mbappé, meanwhile, enjoys the privilege of still being in the tournament at this World Cup – and with a haul that could bring him even closer to Lionel Messi's goal record in the games to come. His 19 World Cup goals underscore his role as the leader of a team that, in its own words, is ready to adapt to the realities of the competition.

France's next opponent is Morocco, who had already reached the semi-finals of the 2022 tournament, where they faced France – losing that match 0:2. At this tournament, Morocco has beaten the Netherlands, among others, and defeated co-host Canada 3:0. The North Africans therefore go into the fixture not as underdogs but as an established tournament side.

A look at Morocco: revenge for 2022?

France will use its preparation for Thursday evening to maintain discipline in the duels above all, without losing offensive thrust. Mbappé announced that the team would stick to its established style – but would also be ready, if necessary, to play "dirty football."

Mbappé's announcement did not come randomly at this stage of the tournament. In knockout rounds, intensity generally rises, and technically superior teams must increasingly expect more rustic opponents. France showed with yesterday's win that it is capable of deciding such games in its favor – even if the victory over Paraguay was a narrow 1:0 that only came about through a penalty.

Looking ahead to the quarter-final in Boston, it remains to be seen whether the referee will once again be in the spotlight. Ilgiz Tantashev's performance sparked debate not only in France but also among neutral observers. Mbappé's public threat to adapt his own team's approach if necessary is likely to fuel the discussion further.

What is certain: France goes into the match against Morocco as favorite. The squad has depth, with players such as Mbappé, Doué, and Cherki capable of providing goal threat. Whether they ultimately reach the semi-final will depend not least on how well they manage to control the heated moments of a World Cup match – while at the same time bringing their own class onto the pitch.

Morocco, meanwhile, also has a difficult round-of-16 match behind it and will prepare meticulously for the encounter with France. The fact that the North Africans had already reached that stage of the tournament in 2022 and faced France adds extra spice to the game.