France had everything in the match for a long time – except scoring chances. Despite a huge advantage in the game, the team did not manage to take the lead until the 70th minute, when Kylian Mbappé made it 1-0 from the penalty spot.
Désiré Doué had just produced an impressive dribbling run in the penalty area, but fell over and won the French penalty after a VAR review.
Paraguay, who had previously knocked out Germany, defended well during the match and it would take France some time into the second half to even get its first shot on goal.
“Show up in a tuxedo”
The match was otherwise a rough affair. France picked up three yellow cards and after the match there was heated discussion in the media about whether Paraguay should have received at least as many warnings. Before Mbappé's penalty, Paraguay's Gustavo Velázquez was there and kicked the penalty spot.
"We knew what kind of match awaited us," Mbappé said afterwards.
They thought we would show up in tuxedos, that we would just show off spectacular tricks. But we know how to play the dirty game too.
Seventh goal
With the clock ticking after the penalty, Paraguay began to switch to a slightly more offensive game, which gave France more scoring chances towards the end of the match. But Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill made some dazzling saves and kept the score down.
Mbappé's goal – his seventh – takes him to the top of the World Cup goalscoring charts, with both he and Lionel Messi now on seven goals.
France next faces Morocco in the quarterfinals.
