06 July,2026 08:36 AM IST | Philadelphia (USA) | AFP
Kylian Mbappe grimaces in pain after being brought down by a challenge from Paraguay defender Juan Jose Caceres in Philadelphia on Saturday. Pic/AFP
Striker Kylian Mbappe scored from the penalty spot as France overcame searing heat and stubborn defence to beat Paraguay 1-0 and set up a World Cup quarter-final against Morocco on Saturday.
France captain Mbappe coolly stroked in a 70th-minute spot-kick to settle a tense duel with the tough-tackling Paraguayans in furnace-like conditions at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field.
The goal was Mbappe's seventh of the World Cup, putting him alongside Argentina's Lionel Messi in the race for the tournament's Golden Boot.
Paraguay, who pulled off a massive upset in the last 32 by ousting four-time champions Germany on penalties, frustrated 2018 winner France for long periods with an ultra-disciplined defensive effort.
But the introduction of substitute Desire Doue for left winger Bradley Barcola in the 61st minute led to the breakthrough.
Paris Saint-Germain player Doue cut in menacingly from the left and jinked past several Paraguayan players before being upended by Diego Gomez in the area.
There was a brief delay after referee Ilgiz Tantashev waved play on, but when the incident was sent to VAR for review, the Uzbek official swiftly pointed to the spot.
Mbappe stepped up and converted with aplomb to settle a match played in temperatures of around 38 degrees Celsius as a heatwave roasted the northeastern United States.
"We knew what sort of match we were in for, but I think today went really well," Mbappe said after an ill-tempered affair.
"They thought we'd turn up in tuxedos, that we'd just come to pull off some spectacular moves," Mbappe added.
"But we know how to play the dirty game too."
The Real Madrid forward added: "The way we played today showed that we're not just a team that knows how to play attacking football.
"If we have to get our hands dirty, we'll get our hands dirty."
The meeting with Paraguay was a scrappy affair that somehow only produced three yellow cards from Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev - all for France.
As Mbappe prepared to take his penalty, both sets of players squared off, with Paraguay also attempting to dig up the spot ahead of the kick. "That's their football, that's their way of playing," the 27-year-old said.
"Everyone plays to their strengths; there's no right or wrong way to play football. There's only one way, and that's to win.
They tried to get the better of us that way, but we got the better of them in that too," he added.
One
Kylian Mbappe is the first player to score in every round of 16 across three consecutive World Cups (2018, 2022, 2026)
11
No. of goals scored by Mbappe in World Cup knockout matches - the most by any player
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