France scrape past Paraguay, exposing cracks before Morocco clash

France edged Paraguay to reach the World Cup quarter‑finals, but the 1‑0 victory exposed unsettling signs as Kylian Mbappé’s late penalty masked a lackluster attack, leaving Didier Deschamps’ side wary ahead of a demanding clash with Morocco in the tournament. In the first half France dominated possession, holding over eighty percent of the ball, yet they struggled to trouble Paraguay’s goalkeeper Orlando Gill. Kylian Mbappé generated the best chance but headed wide, while Paraguay’s disciplined defence broke the rhythm with robust fouls. The second half offered little improvement, as France continued to find few openings. Manu Koné’s long‑range effort provided the first genuine threat, but the quick‑fire attacks that characterised the group stage were absent.

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Twenty minutes from the end, substitute Désiré Doué was brought down in the box after contact with Diego Gómez. Referee Ilgiz Tantashev initially allowed play to continue, but a VAR review led to a penalty spot. Kylian Mbappé calmly converted, marking his nineteenth World Cup goal in as many matches and securing a 1‑0 lead. The goal ensured France’s progression to the quarter‑finals, yet the performance highlighted a lack of offensive potency. The attack line, praised in recent weeks, barely forced chances against Paraguay, raising doubts about its effectiveness against stronger teams.

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France now prepares for a quarter‑final against Morocco, whose coach Mo Ouahbi has impressed with technically refined, attacking football. Should Les Bleus repeat their sluggish display, they risk encountering serious problems in the tournament. The tight 1‑0 win was decided by a single penalty, sparing France a painful extra‑time. It also underlines the fragility that could be exposed by Morocco’s dynamic style.