France Embrace Grit to Survive Paraguay Test

5 Jul 2026

France reached the World Cup quarter-finals by beating Paraguay 1-0, but the performance was more about grit than glamour. Kylian Mbappe’s penalty settled a tense match in Philadelphia after France were forced into a physical contest that tested their patience and discipline. The win showed another side of Didier Deschamps’ team. France did not flow freely, yet they adapted to the pressure, survived Paraguay’s disruptive approach and found a decisive moment when Desire Doue’s direct running created the penalty chance.