Media365
Kylian Mbappe helped France reach the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay, but the match ended with ugly scenes after the final whistle.France, considered one of the favourites to win the tournament, were forced into a physical and tense battle by Paraguay in the sweltering Philadelphia heat. Mbappe, who spent much of the game on the receiving end of heavy challenges, scored the only goal from the penalty spot after a VAR review confirmed a foul on Desire Doue. After the final whistle, tensions spilled over during the traditional handshake line. Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill attempted to shake Mbappe’s hand, but the French captain ignored the gesture and turned to celebrate with supporters. An angry Gill then threw the ball at Mbappe, hitting him in the back, although the France star chose not to respond.Watch:“I tried to shake his hand, but since he didn’t pay me any attention, I lost my temper,” Gill admitted afterwards. “But that was all. I calmed down afterwards.”Mbappe’s winning goal was his seventh of the tournament, putting him back level at the top of the Golden Boot standings. It also took his World Cup career tally to 19 goals, leaving him just one behind Lionel Messi’s all-time tournament record.Reflecting on the heated contest, Mbappe insisted France had been prepared for Paraguay’s aggressive approach.“We knew what kind of match it was going to be,” Mbappe said. “We can also get our hands dirty. We know how to play ugly football. They probably thought we’d turn up in tuxedos, but we were ready.”The victory sends France into the quarter-finals for the fourth consecutive World Cup, where they will face Morocco, a side they defeated in the semi-finals of the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
