With the help of Kylian Mbappe’s decisive penalty goal, France defeated Paraguay 1-0 and entered the quarter-finals of the Football World Cup 2026. Now the next challenge for the French team will be Morocco.
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026: France has confirmed its place in the quarter-finals by continuing its excellent performance in the Football World Cup 2026. In the pre-quarterfinal match played on Sunday, France defeated South American team Paraguay 1-0. The only and decisive goal of the match was scored by star forward Kylian Mbappe on a penalty in the second half.
In this match played at the Philadelphia Stadium, Paraguay showed strong defensive play and prevented France from scoring for a long time. However, by taking advantage of the penalty opportunity in the 70th minute, Mbappe gave France the lead, which lasted till the end. With this victory, France has reached the last eight (quarterfinals) of the World Cup for the fourth consecutive time. Now its next match will be against Morocco on 9th July.
VAR’s decision changed the course of the match
There was a tough competition between the two teams in the first half. France controlled more of the ball, but continued to struggle against Paraguay’s strong defence. In the 70th minute of the second half, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviewed a foul. After review, France was given a penalty. Kylian Mbappe gave the team a 1-0 lead by sending the ball into the goal post without any mistake. This goal ultimately proved to be the decisive moment of the match.
Paraguay gave a tough challenge
Although the scoreline remained in favor of France, Paraguay fought brilliantly throughout the match. The team thwarted many French attacks on the basis of organized defence. Goalkeeper Orlando Gil made many excellent saves and kept the match exciting till the last minute.
In the second half, Mbappe got a breakaway chance, but he could not convert it into a goal. Apart from this, Gill also stopped Manu Kone’s powerful shot with a brilliant dive. Even in stoppage time, Paraguay’s goalkeeper kept his team’s hopes alive by thwarting two more attempts from Mbappe.
Orlando Gil is the hero of Paraguay
Even though Paraguay lost the match, the performance of its goalkeeper Orlando Gil was commendable. He made many excellent saves throughout the match and limited France’s attacks. Had Gil’s performance not been so impressive, France’s margin of victory could have been larger. His performance is being counted among the major positive achievements of the match.
Controversial moment seen after the match
After the match was over, a small incident also came into discussion. After the end of the match, Paraguay’s goalkeeper Orlando Gil came forward to shake hands with Kylian Mbappe in the spirit of sportsmanship. According to reports, Mbappe did not pay attention to them at that time and moved ahead.
After this, Gill appeared disappointed and threw the ball in his direction, which hit Mbappe’s back. This incident was recorded on cameras and became a topic of discussion on social media. However, there was no official reaction to the incident from the match officials or both the teams.
Now there will be a big competition with Morocco
France will next face Morocco in the quarter-finals. This match between the two teams will be played on the night of 9th July. While France will enter the field with the experience of its star players, Morocco will once again try to cause an upset. Football experts are considering this match as one of the most exciting quarter-finals of the tournament.
Mbappe’s great record continues
Kylian Mbappe once again proved to be decisive for his team in a big match. His ability to score goals at crucial moments remains France’s greatest strength. Even in this tournament, his performance is continuously playing an important role in taking the team forward. His pace, finishing and ability to remain calm under pressure make him one of the best footballers in the world.
France’s title hopes remain intact
France looks like a balanced team in the World Cup 2026. The team is continuously performing well on the basis of strong defence, experienced midfield and aggressive forward line. However, he will have to face more difficult challenges in the quarter-finals and further matches. If France maintains its current performance, it will once again be among the strong contenders to become world champion.
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