France edges past Paraguay with a narrow victory in the Round of 16In a tightly contested match, France secured a 1-0 victory over Paraguay, thanks to a decisive penalty from Kylian Mbappe in the 70th minute. The win propels France into the quarter-finals of the World Cup, while Paraguay exits the tournament.
Throughout the match, France dominated possession, holding 76% compared to Paraguay's 24%. This control translated into a significant advantage in offensive opportunities, with France registering 15 total shots, five of which were on target, while Paraguay managed only five shots with just one on goal.
Paraguay's defensive efforts were commendable, but they struggled to create meaningful chances against a resolute French side. The match saw three yellow cards issued to France, highlighting the physical nature of the encounter, as Paraguay committed 12 fouls to France's 10.
The turning point came when Mbappe converted a penalty after a foul in the box, showcasing his composure under pressure. Despite several substitutions aimed at revitalizing Paraguay's attack, they were unable to find the equalizer, leaving France to celebrate a hard-fought victory.