France-Paraguay: Paraguayan team's provocative play and lenient refereeing draw criticism

France advanced to the next round of the 2026 World Cup with a narrow 1-0 victory over Paraguay, but the match was marred by controversy over the South American team's aggressive tactics and the referee's permissive officiating.

Kylian Mbappé's penalty, awarded after a foul on Désiré Doué, secured France's win. However, the game's narrative was dominated by Paraguay's defensive approach, which involved numerous robust and provocative physical challenges that went unpunished. International media outlets widely condemned this style of play.

Spanish media likened the match to a "minefield" for the French team, criticizing the referee for allowing overly aggressive play that escalated tensions. German sports commentators were even more critical, labeling Paraguay's performance "disgusting football" and decrying the referee's "unfair" officiating. They pointed to several uncalled fouls on French players, including a particularly violent challenge by Galarza on Mbappé, which was not reviewed by VAR or penalized.

Disciplinary statistics highlighted the disparity: Paraguay committed 13 fouls without receiving a single card, while France incurred three cautions for 11 fouls. Media reports suggested Paraguay's strategy relied heavily on physical intimidation and provocation to disrupt France's key players, accusing them of disregarding basic football ethics due to the referee's excessive leniency.