PHILADELPHIA — Kylian Mbappé scored his 19th FIFA World Cup goal as France overcame a rugged Paraguay side 1-0 on Saturday to book a place in the quarterfinals and set up a blockbuster clash with Morocco.
Mbappé converted a second-half penalty to extend his remarkable World Cup scoring record and keep Les Bleus’ title hopes alive after a fiercely contested Round of 16 encounter played in sweltering conditions.
The victory sends France into the World Cup quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive tournament, where they will meet Morocco on Thursday.
“We knew what kind of match it was going to be,” Mbappé said. “We can also get our hands dirty. We know how to play ugly football. Guess they were thinking we were going to show up in tuxedos, but we were ready.”
With temperatures approaching 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit), both teams battled through one of the hottest matches of the tournament.
The decisive moment came in the 70th minute when video review awarded France a penalty after Diego Gómez fouled Mbappé inside the area. The France captain calmly converted from the spot for his 19th World Cup goal in as many tournament appearances.
The strike moved Mbappé within one goal of Lionel Messi’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 20. It also left the French forward level with the Argentine on seven goals in the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot.
France had dominated the tournament offensively, scoring 13 goals in their opening five matches, but found Paraguay difficult to break down as tempers repeatedly flared.
Several heated confrontations erupted throughout the match, with Andrés Cubas and Matías Galarza among the Paraguay players involved in physical challenges on Mbappé.
After the final whistle, tensions briefly continued when Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill appeared to throw the ball toward Mbappé after the French star walked past without shaking his hand.
Gill, however, was one of Paraguay’s standout performers, making several outstanding saves to deny Mbappé and Manu Koné and keep his side in the contest until the end.
“Without that penalty, we would have taken it to extra time,” Gill said.
Paraguay had reached the Round of 16 after stunning Germany in a penalty shootout but could not produce another upset against one of the tournament favorites.
France remain unbeaten in the tournament with five consecutive victories, having outscored their opponents 14-2, and continue their pursuit of a second World Cup title in three editions after lifting the trophy in 2018 and finishing runners-up to Argentina in 2022.
Source: Saudi Gazette