Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the legendary Swedish footballer, recently commented on the aggressive style of play Paraguay displayed during their 2026 World Cup Round of 16 match against France. While Les Bleus ultimately secured a narrow 1-0 victory at Lincoln Financial Field, Ibrahimovic noted that the heavy physical pressure from the South American side would have been difficult for him to handle.
The match was decided in the 70th minute when Kylian Mbappe successfully converted a penalty kick after Desire Doue was fouled. Referee Ilgiz Tantashev awarded the spot-kick following a VAR intervention. Despite Paraguay’s disciplined defensive strategy and an outstanding performance by goalkeeper Orlando Gill, France managed to advance to the quarter-finals against Morocco.
Ibrahimovic, speaking on FOX Sports, expressed admiration for the French squad’s ability to remain calm despite constant physical provocations. He jokingly remarked that he personally would have received multiple red cards had he been on the pitch. Instead, he lauded the French team for keeping their composure and responding with a smile rather than retaliating against Paraguay’s aggressive tactics.
