Mbappé and France ditch ‘tuxedos’ to play ‘dirty football’ and beat Paraguay
France defeated Paraguay 1-0 in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 thanks to a Kylian Mbappé penalty. The match was characterized by a physical, aggressive style of play from Paraguay that forced France to abandon their usual technical approach.
Why it matters
This victory advances France to the quarter-finals, maintaining their status as tournament favorites while highlighting the tactical adaptability required in high-stakes international football.
Kylian Mbappé’s spot-kick was enough to send France past Paraguay and into the World Cup last 16. Kylian Mbappé’s spot-kick was enough to send France past Paraguay and into the World Cup last 16. World Cup 2026 Mbappé and France ditch ‘tuxedos’ to play ‘dirty football’ and beat Paraguay Paul MacInnes at Philadelphia Stadium Sat 4 Jul 2026 20.45 EDT First published on Sat 4 Jul 2026 19.18 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google On this occasion, France kept the champagne football on ice. Which was probably just as well, given the temperature. As Philadelphia broiled in an Independence Day heatwave, the World Cup favourites were forced to drop a gear or two but still had too much for a Paraguay team that set out for a fight but were ultimately no more than a nuisance.
The article provides a straightforward sports report focusing on match events and player quotes without political or ideological slant.
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