France reaches the quarterfinals – Mbappé delivers the Équipe against battling Paraguay

Match recap: Penalty in the 70th minute

In front of 68,324 spectators in Philadelphia, a match developed that was intense from both sides, and very rough from one. The French picked up three yellow cards, shown to Barcola, Koné and Olise. Paraguay, on the other hand, finished the match without a single booking – a circumstance that drew massive criticism afterward.

Head coach Didier Deschamps, described by OE24 as France's team boss, was satisfied with the result after the final whistle, but not with the performance: "Paraguay hat alle Register gezogen. Vielleicht ist das nicht die Art von Fußball, die die Zuschauer am liebsten sehen, aber wir sind konzentriert geblieben. Gegen südamerikanische Mannschaften ist es immer schwierig. Umso mehr freut es mich, dass meine Spieler ihre Aufgabe erfüllt haben."

Deschamps satisfied with the result

Mbappé, whose goal was his 19th at a World Cup, leaving him just one behind Lionel Messi's World Cup record, gave a sober assessment of the encounter: "Jeder spielt mit dem, was er hat. Es gibt im Fußball kein richtig oder falsch, sondern nur einen Weg: gewinnen." The striker had shouted at Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill during the match and also loudly insulted the fans after the final whistle – head coach Didier Deschamps had to calm him down afterward.

The Paraguayans were accused by the French of deliberately physical play. Deschamps said: "Wir haben drei Gelbe Karten bekommen, und die anderen haben endlos gefoult. Jede Mannschaft spielt so, wie sie es für richtig hält, wobei ich auf einige Beleidigungen der Gegenseite hätte verzichten können." Rayan Cherki added: "Wie viele Fouls gab es, 30, 40? Wie viele Gelbe Karten gab es? Dazu habe ich nichts mehr zu sagen."

Galarza in the spotlight

Particularly in the spotlight was Matias Galarza. The 24-year-old, contracted to River Plate in Argentina, had struck Mbappé on the shoulder away from the ball – an incident the referee let go without consequences. According to the report, Galarza also tried to damage the penalty spot ahead of Mbappé's kick, but failed on a subsequent attempt to hit Jules Koundé, and fell theatrically to the ground after a clash with Michael Olise. After elimination, Galarza cried in the interview zone. He later said: "Jeder hat das Spiel gespielt, das er spielen wollte."

Sharp criticism of the referee

Referee Ilgis Tantashev of Uzbekistan was at the center of criticism. By observers' assessment, he not only failed to punish the foul on Mbappé and other rough challenges with cards, but also failed to give at least a yellow for a shin kick and an elbow to Dayot Upamecano's solar plexus. Former Bundesliga referee Patrick Ittrich slammed the performance on MagentaTV: "Als Unparteiischer hast du das Spiel zu managen, das ist hier komplett in die Hose gegangen." Ittrich called it the "schlechteste Schiedsrichterleistung dieser WM" and found it "unfassbar" that Paraguay finished without a card. For Galarza's strike on Mbappé, he said he would have shown a red card.

MagentaTV host Jan Henkel was also outraged by the scenes before the penalty, in which several players messed with the penalty spot: "Widerlich, regt mich tierisch auf." Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill pushed back against the criticism: "Das ist Fußball. Wenn sie das nicht gewohnt sind – was sollen wir da machen? So ist Paraguay eben – eine harte Mannschaft." His coach Gustavo Alfaro added: "Unsere Haltung ist es, auf dem Platz wie Löwen zu kämpfen."

Mbappé, who also made headlines after the game for his comments about the Paraguayans' style of play, was unfazed. "Sie dachten, dass wir kommen würden, um im Smoking zu spielen, dass wir nur kommen würden, um schöne Aktionen und Eins-Zwei zu machen. Wir wissen auch, wie man schmutzigen Fußball spielt," he said. Asked about the physicality, he said: "Das ist ihr Fußball. Jeder kämpft mit seinen Waffen. Sie wollten nur kämpfen. Wir können auch dreckig spielen, aber waren trotzdem besser als sie. Wenn wir uns die Hände schmutzig machen müssen, dann machen wir uns die Hände schmutzig."

Mbappé assesses the match

The Frenchman also pointed to his team's versatility: "Wir haben gezeigt, dass wir nicht nur Offensivfußball spielen können." France, which had been held scoreless in the first half (0:0 at the break), had proven it can also handle a scrappy game. Conditions in Philadelphia were further complicated by high temperatures, according to the report.

Outlook: Quarterfinal against Morocco

In the quarterfinals, France now faces Morocco. The North Africans, reigning African champions, had already earlier in this World Cup dispatched co-host Canada convincingly 3:0, sealing the World Cup exit of the North American host. France and Morocco already met in the 2022 World Cup semifinal, when the Équipe Tricolore won 2:0. Memories of that match are likely to loom large in Boston on Thursday evening when the two sides meet again.

For Paraguay, who for long stretches had shaped the match openly and with great passion, the tournament ended with a defeat that felt emotionally heavy due to the circumstances. The performance in Philadelphia, as became clear afterward, had left its mark – on both teams.

France travels on to Boston with a narrow but ultimately composed win and a healthy dose of anger in its belly. Mbappé himself was already looking ahead: "Wir wissen, dass sie eine sehr starke Mannschaft sind, und wir werden unser Bestes geben, um unseren Weg fortzusetzen."

The Équipe Tricolore is living up to its favorite's tag for now – though in a manner that Deschamps himself could only reluctantly call the "Art von Fußball" that "die Zuschauer am liebsten sehen". Thursday evening in Boston will show whether France can rediscover its more attacking game against Morocco.