France was given a huge scare in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 showdown against Paraguay in Philadelphia. 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.However, the quality in the French ranks eventually shone through, with Mbappe converting from the spot on 70 minutes after Desire Doue was brought down.
Mbappe converts penalty !!
— @talkFootX (@KeriMccorm1440) July 4, 2026
Paraguay 0-1 France https://t.co/ye9APJtInc pic.twitter.com/qL6T4mRwKe
This was not an attacking masterclass by the French like they had produced in their previous games, but Paraguay did not allow them to play that way. It was very much a mismatch, though, with Les Bleus having almost all of the ball and Paraguay not managing a shot on target until the 90th minute.It was a tight contest as Paraguay maintained a solid structure and defended deep, and France weren't able to create any clear-cut chances in the first half despite having the majority of the possession.
It took his World Cup tally to 19 goals in 19 appearances, one behind record holder Lionel Messi. Mbappe and Messi are also on top of the Golden Boot race with seven goals. Mbappe also missed plenty of chances and was denied by Orlando Gill twice in the second half.
Newsinc24 Team





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