A day at work: Mbappe after France's win over Paraguay in FIFA World Cup 2026 R-16 clash

Kylian Mbappe summed up France's challenging 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 with a succinct social media post: "A day at work." The French captain converted a second-half penalty to secure a quarter-final berth against Morocco, keeping alive their hopes of a third World Cup title.

After cruising through the group stage, France encountered a disciplined Paraguayan side that had previously upset Germany. Despite dominating possession, Les Bleus struggled to penetrate Paraguay's organized defense and relentless pressing. The first half saw no shots on target from either team, a rarity in World Cup knockout matches since 1966.

The decisive moment arrived in the 66th minute when substitute Desire Doue's impactful run led to a penalty. Mbappe calmly slotted the ball home, breaking the deadlock. Paraguay pushed for an equalizer in the closing stages, but France managed the game effectively. Mbappe almost doubled the lead in stoppage time, but Paraguay's goalkeeper Orlando Gill made an outstanding double save.

The narrow win marked France's toughest test of the tournament so far, highlighting the businesslike manner in which the two-time champions navigated a tense and physical encounter.

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A day at work