Mbappe penalty sends France to quarterfinals

Kylian Mbappe's penalty kick propelled France into the World Cup quarterfinals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay. The decisive moment came in the 70th minute when substitute Desire Doue was fouled by Diego Gomez inside the box. After a VAR review confirmed the infringement, Mbappe calmly converted the spot-kick, marking his seventh goal of the tournament. This tally now equals that of Argentina's captain, Lionel Messi, placing them both at the top of the scoring charts. Throughout the match, played in hot conditions with intense tempo, Paraguay displayed disciplined defending, making it difficult for the reigning world champions to break the deadlock. However, France's experience ultimately proved to be the difference. Didier Deschamps' squad will now prepare for a challenging quarterfinal clash against Morocco as they aim to defend their title. The win eliminated Paraguay from the competition.