France captain Kylian Mbappe recently critiqued Paraguay following Les Bleus’ hard-fought Round of 16 victory. The French team extended their winning streak to five games, remaining firmly in contention for the 2026 World Cup title.
Speaking to the media in Philadelphia, Mbappe expressed frustration regarding the physical style of play adopted by the South American side. He made it clear that his squad was prepared to match their opponent’s aggression. According to the French forward, Paraguay appeared to expect an aesthetic performance, but his team proved they were equally capable of playing a gritty, competitive style when necessary.
Mbappe noted that while Paraguay attempted to provoke his side, France maintained control and effectively returned the intensity. Despite La Albirroja’s aggressive tackling—which had previously eliminated Germany—France stayed disciplined. The match remained tense until the 70th minute, when Les Bleus broke the deadlock to secure a 1-0 win. This result sets up a highly anticipated quarter-final encounter against Morocco in Boston.
