France head coach Didier Deschamps accused Paraguay of using "every trick in the book" after his side secured a gritty 1-0 victory in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The win, sealed by a second-half penalty from Kylian Mbappe, sent Les Bleus into the quarterfinals, where they will face Morocco.
Deschamps criticizes Paraguay's tactics
Speaking after the match, Deschamps expressed frustration with Paraguay's defensive approach, which he felt crossed the line into gamesmanship. "It wasn't easy. They use every trick in the book. It's not the kind of football that will bring people to the stadium, but they defended well. It is always difficult against these South American teams," Deschamps said, according to Reuters.
The France coach also revealed that he had instructed his players to protect Mbappe from physical challenges. "I asked the two biggest lads to go and stand around Kylian at the end because they were going to chop him down," Deschamps told reporters.
A tense, low-scoring affair
The match was a defensive battle, with France dominating possession but struggling to break down Paraguay's disciplined backline. The first half saw no shots on target from either side, making it only the third FIFA World Cup knockout fixture since 1966 to reach halftime without a single shot on goal. Tensions flared when a challenge on Mbappe sparked a mass confrontation between players.
France finally broke the deadlock in the 66th minute. Desire Doue won a penalty after being fouled in the box, and Mbappe calmly converted from the spot to give his side the lead. Paraguay pressed hard for an equalizer in the closing stages, but France's defense held firm to secure the victory.
Quarterfinal clash with Morocco
With the win, France advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, where they will face Morocco. Deschamps acknowledged the challenge ahead but expressed confidence in his team's ability to compete. The match against Morocco promises to be another tough test for the reigning champions.
Despite the victory, Deschamps emphasized the need for improvement in attack. "We dominated possession but couldn't create many clear chances. We need to be more clinical in the final third," he said.
