France entered the World Cup knockout stage in Asuncion under a blaze of 39 °C, a heat that tested both stamina and strategy.
A test of endurance
Paraguay lined up in a compact 5‑4‑1 formation, hoping to stifle the French attack, but the opening half produced no shots on target from either side.
The deadlock was broken after the break when Kylian Mbappe stepped up to convert a penalty, his 19th goal in World Cup appearances drawing him level with Lionel Messi on the all‑time scoring list.
France’s lineup featured a like‑for‑like replacement for the injured Aurelien Tchouameni, with Manu Kone taking his place, while Adrien Rabiot, Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola and the rest of the squad watched the game unfold under the scorching sun.
In the dying moments, Paraguay pressed hard, forcing Mike Maignan into a crucial save in the 90th minute, but the French defense held firm.
With the victory secured, Les Bleus now turn their focus to a quarter‑final showdown against Morocco, a match that promises another tactical battle on the global stage.