Mbappe keeps cool as France survive furnace against Paraguay

Kylian Mbappe's second-half penalty was enough to see France through to the World Cup quarterfinals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay on Saturday. The French star converted a 70th-minute spot-kick after being awarded following a VAR review, securing his 19th World Cup goal and setting up a last-eight clash with Morocco.

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Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their first goal

France endured a physically demanding match in a "suffocating Philadelphia furnace," as described by the report. Despite dominating possession for periods, they struggled to break down a defensive Paraguayan side. The match saw neither team register a shot on target before halftime, highlighting the tight nature of the contest. France made one change from their previous match, with Manu Kone replacing the injured Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield.

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France's Kylian Mbappe converted a second-half penalty as France ‌sweated through a suffocating Philadelphia furnace and wrestled their way out of a brutal scrap with Paraguay to snatch a 1-0 win on Saturday, setting up a World Cup quarter-final against Morocco.

Paraguay, seeking to avenge a 1998 defeat, employed a minimalist approach and repeatedly sought to disrupt France's rhythm. The game turned when substitute Desire Doue earned a penalty for France after being fouled in the box. Mbappe coolly converted, though France faced late pressure when goalkeeper Mike Maignan was called into action in the 90th minute. Despite further chances for Mbappe being denied by the Paraguayan keeper, France held on to secure the win.

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Mbappe’s 19th World Cup goal in as many appearances ensured there would ​be no repeat of Paraguay’s shock elimination of four-time champions Germany, or Cape Verde’s near-miracle against Argentina the ​previous day, as France survived a contest their opponents repeatedly dragged into murky waters.

The victory ensures France avoids a repeat of Paraguay's past upsets and moves them closer to World Cup glory, though the match underscored the challenges of breaking down resilient opponents under pressure.

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For France, it was turning into a test of patience, but they pressed on after the interval and finally broke through when substitute Desire Doue, ​on for Bradley Barcola, ​was tripped in the ⁠box by Diego Gomez.