L'inquisitore Mbappé ha schiacciato un paraguaiano

France secured its place in the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after defeating Paraguay 1-0 in Philadelphia. The match took place on July 9, where France will face Morocco, who had previously eliminated Canada. The sole goal was scored by captain Kylian Mbappé, who converted a penalty in the 70th minute following a VAR decision for a foul against substitute Desiré Doue. Despite dominating much of the game, France struggled to break down Paraguay's defense throughout most of the match. Before halftime, players such as Ousmane Dembélé, Adrien Rabiot, and Jules Koundé attempted to score, while goalkeeper Orlando Hil made crucial interventions.

The first half saw neither team manage a shot on target, marking the third elimination match since 1966 without either side scoring. After halftime, France continued their pressure, with Manu Koné forcing Hil into a corner kick. Shortly thereafter, the decisive moment arrived with the penalty, which Mbappé successfully converted, making it his seventh goal of the tournament and his 19th overall in World Cup history. In the closing moments, Mbappé had the opportunity to extend France’s lead but Hil once again saved several shots, preserving the 1-0 result.

The match also witnessed controversial behavior from both teams. According to reports, Mbappé was subjected to intense scrutiny from Paraguayan players, who allegedly targeted him aggressively. It was claimed that near the end of the first half, Mbappé used an expletive directed at Paraguay's player Junior Alonso, specifically saying "La concha tu madre," which translates to a Spanish insult towards Alonso's mother. The French team denied these claims, stating that Paraguay's players had similarly targeted coach Didier Deschamps, who had recently returned home for the funeral of his mother. Paraguay denied making such remarks.

The referee for the match, Ilgiz Tantashov, received a poor rating from the authoritative publication "Équipe." He was criticized for failing to show any cards to Paraguay despite numerous fouls committed by them. The referee only recorded 13 fouls during the match, leading to no disciplinary action being taken against Paraguay. This marked the first time since the 1998 World Cup that a Paraguayan team completed a match without receiving any yellow cards. Meanwhile, France accumulated three yellow cards for their ten fouls.

Following this performance, Tantashov will not officiate any further matches at the World Cup. His departure mirrors that of Moroccan referee Jalal Ghaïed, who faced criticism in an earlier match involving Paraguay. The incident has sparked discussions about the quality of refereeing decisions and the impact they have on the flow and fairness of the game.

The French team's coach, Didier Deschamps, reportedly sent two bodyguards to accompany Mbappé during the latter part of the match due to concerns over potential threats from opposing players. This move highlights the heightened tensions and physical confrontations that can arise in high-stakes international football matches. Additionally, the goalkeeper of Paraguay expressed frustration after being struck by the ball by Mbappé, emphasizing the emotional intensity of the encounter.

Mbappé himself addressed the issue of unsportsmanlike conduct, suggesting that if necessary, France could also engage in similar tactics. However, he emphasized the importance of maintaining sportsmanship and respect for opponents. As the tournament progresses, the focus will shift to how these incidents affect future matchups and whether they influence the strategies employed by teams moving forward. With France now set to face Morocco in the quarterfinals, the outcome of this match will play a significant role in determining the path to the final.