France Claims 1-0 Victory in Physically Demanding Match
The last 2026 World Cup match in Philadelphia saw Paraguay employ a physical style reminiscent of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, a tactic that did not sit well with France.
The match was marked by several instances of rough play, with Paraguay targeting star forward Kylian Mbappé, who ultimately converted a penalty kick in the 70th minute to secure the win for France.
"I had never played a match like this, with so many hits," France midfielder Manu Koné said. "I mean, cheap shots, shoves in the back. So, yes, it was complicated."
Paraguay's tactics, which included several fouls on Mbappé, did not result in any yellow cards for La Albirroja during the match, while France received three yellow cards.
"We knew what kind of match it was going to be," Mbappé said. "We can also get our hands dirty. We know how to do it. We know how to play ugly football. Guess they were thinking we were going to show up in tuxedos, but we were ready. Even at that kind of game, we were better than them."
The match remained heated after the final whistle, with players from both sides converging near the center circle and Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill throwing a ball at Mbappé's back.
"I tried to shake his hand, but since he didn’t pay me any attention, I lost my temper," Gill said.
"From the very first moment, we set out to make our presence felt on the pitch — to play hard," Gill said. "If the ball gets through, the man doesn’t. And, honestly, I think the team handled itself well."
However, France coach Didier Deschamps disagreed, stating, "They pull out every trick in the book. It’s not the kind of football that draws people to the stadium. Each team played the way they want. But there were insults from the other bench that I could do without."
The tension between the two teams was palpable, with Mbappé and Matias Galarza engaging in a verbal spat at one point.
"We fought a battle," France’s William Saliba said. "We won the battle."
