Ex-French Player Dugarry Predicts Paraguay Will Be 'Beaten Badly' at World Cup

France's dominant performance in the 2026 North American World Cup has positioned them as a formidable contender, with former French international Christophe Dugarry predicting a harsh defeat for their next opponent, Paraguay. France has impressed with 13 goals in four matches while conceding only two, solidifying their status as serious candidates for the World Cup title.

Dugarry, a member of the 1998 World Cup-winning squad, did not hold back in his assessment of the upcoming Round of 16 clash. He described Paraguay as "incapable of proposing any play" and offensively "catastrophic." According to Dugarry, Paraguay's strategy will be limited to defense and "kicking," which he deems insufficient against the French team.

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The Paraguayans are going to get beaten badly, the Paraguayans are going to arrive, they are going to want to defend because they are incapable, incapable, I repeat twice so it is understood, of proposing play. That's it, offensively it's catastrophic, so all they are going to do is defend, they are going to kick, but that is not enough.

Looking at the broader tournament landscape, Dugarry sees few genuine threats to France's path to the final. He expressed admiration for Morocco's quality but questioned their ability to maintain their initial performance level. Dugarry believes that while teams like Morocco might pose challenges in later stages, such as semifinals or finals, the immediate focus must be on overcoming Paraguay.

France's offensive prowess and solid defense have made them the most convincing team in the tournament so far. Dugarry's blunt assessment underscores the perceived gap in quality between the two teams, setting the stage for what he anticipates will be a one-sided encounter.

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The problem is: what team can offer you something different? Morocco... I love Morocco, no problem, but Morocco will have to maintain the quality of their first match.