Paraguay’s World Cup run ended the hard way Saturday, with La Albirroja pushing France into one of its most uncomfortable matches of the tournament before falling 1-0 in the Round of 16.
Kylian Mbappé scored the only goal in the 70th minute, converting a penalty after a VAR review ruled that Diego Gómez had fouled Désiré Doué inside the area. It was enough to send France into the quarterfinals and leave Paraguay with a bitter exit after a campaign that had already delivered one of the shocks of the tournament.
For much of the match, Paraguay made France play on Paraguayan terms. Gustavo Alfaro’s side defended deep, closed central spaces, crowded the wings and turned the game into a physical battle rather than the open, attacking showcase France usually prefers.
It nearly worked.
France controlled the ball for long stretches but struggled to find rhythm against a compact Paraguayan back line. Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise were kept quiet for much of the first half, while Paraguay leaned on discipline, contact and the occasional counter through Miguel Almirón and Julio Enciso.
Paraguay’s problem was that resistance came with little release. The longer the match went on in the Philadelphia heat, the more difficult it became for La Albirroja to keep clearing danger without giving France another chance.
That chance came midway through the second half. Doué drove into the box, Gómez challenged, and after the referee initially let play continue, VAR sent him to the monitor. Mbappé stepped up and put France ahead.
Paraguay tried to answer late, but France held on through a tense finish that included more pushing, arguing and frustration after the final whistle. The match had carried an edge throughout, with France accusing Paraguay of going beyond normal physical play and Paraguay insisting it had gone out to compete the only way it could against a deeper, more talented squad.
For Paraguay, the loss ends a tournament that still changed the tone around the national team. La Albirroja had reached the Round of 16 after eliminating Germany on penalties, a result that set off national celebrations back home and gave the country one of its proudest World Cup moments in years.
Alfaro now leaves with mixed emotions. Paraguay did not have France’s stars, possession or attacking depth, but it forced one of the tournament favorites into a street fight and stayed alive until one penalty changed the night.
France moves on to face Morocco in the quarterfinals on Thursday, July 9, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Paraguay goes home, but not quietly. Its World Cup ended with a narrow loss to a powerhouse, not a collapse, and with enough grit to remind everyone why South American teams remain dangerous deep into any tournament.
