Paraguay is hard work, but Mbappé solves it, and France goes to the quarterfinals of the World Cup

Click here and join the FolhaStats group Check out the World Cup fixture list From a penalty, the goal takes the striker to the top of the scoring charts in this edition, alongside Argentine Lionel Messi, with seven goals each.

The French play the first game of the next knockout phase next Thursday (9), at 5pm, in Boston, against Morocco, who beat Canada 3-0 earlier this Saturday.

The match was preceded by a ceremony dedicated to the 4th of July holiday, which marks the date of the independence of the United States 250 years ago.

Actress and singer Idina Menzel sang the American anthem, the Philadelphian group The Roots performed and the blue, red and white fireworks also served as a celebration of the French and Paraguayans, who share the same colors in their flags with Americans.

See the statistics for Paraguay x France With the ball rolling in a temperature that reached 40ºC, the expected scenario of attack against defense was confirmed.

Coming from achieving a historic elimination over Germany on penalties, Paraguay played in a formation with five defenders, and France dominated the actions close to their offensive area, had almost 80% possession in the first half and stifled the exchange of passes from their opponents.

Despite controlling the ball, the favorites did not create plays in the initial stage that endangered goalkeeper Orlando Gill, hero of the Paraguayan classification in the 32nd stage.

The Paraguayans scored well and opted for counterattacks in the few opportunities they had, but without success in maintaining possession of the ball. In the 5-4-1 formation, it was mainly up to Enciso (scorer of the Paraguayan goal against Germany) to try to create plays towards Mike Maignan's goal.

France finally forced Gill to work 9 minutes into the second half, with a shot from Koné.

Argentine Gustavo Alfaro, coach of Paraguay, decided to change defender for defender (Canale replacing Alderete, who was injured) and then change the front: he added Caballero for Enciso to leave.

Didier Deschamps, then, also made an offensive substitution, replacing Barcola with Doué. The two are PSG teammates. Doué needed just four minutes to change the game. He entered the area, dribbled twice and was fouled, later confirmed after a VAR review.

With ease, Mbappé took the penalty kick to convert and open the scoring, at 24 minutes. With seven goals in this World Cup, the French captain reached Lionel Messi in the top score.

The two are also at the top of the ranking of players who scored the most in the history of the tournament: the Argentine scored 20 times, and the Frenchman follows close behind, with 19.

The game had few moments of emotion after the opening of the scoring, with the beginnings of confusion between the teams being some of the most exciting moments of the second half.

Mbappé arrived once again, stopping in defense of Gill, but at the end of the match the French team valued possession of the ball more than making an effort to pierce the Paraguayan defense again.

The 1-0 score repeats that of the last meeting between the countries in World Cups, in 1998, also in the round of 16. On that occasion, Laurent Blanc scored the "golden goal" at the end of extra time, which ended the match.

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