France beat Paraguay 1-0 on Saturday in a tense Round of 16 clash, controlling large stretches of the game but needing a Kylian Mbappé penalty to finally break through.

Les Bleus monopolised possession and created the clearer chances, but repeatedly ran into a compact Paraguayan block and an inspired Orlando Gill. Koné, Rabiot, Dembélé and Doué all tried their luck from distance or in tight spaces, yet struggled with precision in the final third.

Paraguay’s approach was clear: sit deep, disrupt rhythm, and use physicality and tactical fouls to break up France’s attacking flow. While disciplined and hard to break down, they offered little going forward, relying instead on defensive organisation and game management to stay alive.

The match grew increasingly tense with stoppages, injuries, and rising frustration, as France’s volume of chances contrasted with Paraguay’s resilience. Eventually, the breakthrough came from the spot, with Mbappé converting calmly to reward France’s superiority and finally tilt the balance.

With the win, France advance to the World Cup 2026 quarterfinals, where they will face Morocco on Thursday in a high-stakes clash between two well-organised and in-form sides.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)