Mbappe Penalty Sends France Past Paraguay in Heated World Cup Clash - Newstrends
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Mbappe Penalty Sends France Past Paraguay in Heated World Cup Clash

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Mbappe breaks Lionel Messi's record to become FIFA World Cup all-time top scorer

Mbappe Penalty Sends France Past Paraguay in Heated World Cup Clash

Kylian Mbappe converted a second-half penalty as France battled through sweltering Philadelphia heat and a physically aggressive Paraguay side to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory, booking their place in the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup where they will face Morocco.

Despite entering the Round of 16 encounter as overwhelming favourites, Didier Deschamps’ men found themselves repeatedly frustrated by a resolute Paraguay team that adopted the same deep defensive approach which had stunned and eliminated Germany in the previous round. Paraguay lined up in a compact 5-4-1 formation, packing players behind the ball and refusing to give France space in the final third.

France dominated possession throughout the contest, with statistics showing Les Bleus enjoyed 75.9% possession and completed 510 passes compared to Paraguay’s 98. However, clear-cut chances proved difficult to come by against the South American side’s stubborn defence. Adrien Rabiot and Manu Kone both tried their luck from distance in the 32nd and 42nd minutes respectively, but neither effort troubled goalkeeper Orlando Gill. The first half ended goalless, with France failing to register a single shot on target. The match was played under punishing conditions, with the temperature reaching 38.3°C (101°F) at kick-off, making it one of the hottest World Cup matches in tournament history. The extreme heat slowed the pace of the match and tested the players’ endurance throughout the contest.

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The match was characterised by Paraguay’s aggressive, physical approach, which drew widespread criticism from pundits and players alike. The South Americans seemed determined to unsettle the two-time world champions, targeting star forward Kylian Mbappe in particular. Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart, commentating for the BBC, was scathing in his assessment: “Paraguay’s players were an absolute disgrace. If they were on my team, I’d be dragging half of them off the pitch. I would never want to win that way and I would never want to play football that way.” Controversial incidents included Andres Cubas clattering into Adrien Rabiot without punishment, Juan Jose Caceres kicking out at Mbappe, and Gabriel Avalos dropping his elbow into Dayot Upamecano’s stomach. Paraguay also employed various off-the-ball tactics, including slapping Jules Kounde in the face, attempting to get Michael Olise booked through theatrical simulation, and even tampering with the penalty spot before Mbappe’s kick. Remarkably, despite committing more fouls than their opponents, Paraguay received not a single yellow card throughout the 90 minutes, while France had three players booked—Kone, Olise, and Barcola. This marked the first time since 1998 that Paraguay completed a World Cup match without being booked. Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev’s officiating drew widespread criticism. Former Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger described it as “probably the worst referee performance I’ve seen at this tournament.” French newspapers gave the referee a score of 1/10, stating he had completely lost control of the game.

With his side struggling to unlock the Paraguayan defence, Deschamps made a decisive tactical change in the 61st minute, replacing Bradley Barcola with Desire Doue. The substitution paid immediate dividends. Doue brought fresh energy to France’s attack and, after receiving the ball, produced an incisive dribble into the penalty area before being brought down by Diego Gomez’s outstretched leg in the 67th minute. The referee initially waved away appeals, but following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, the official was summoned to the pitchside monitor and awarded a penalty. Paraguay attempted to disrupt the spot-kick, with Gustavo Velazquez sneaking behind the referee to scuff up the penalty spot with his boot. The tactics proved futile as Kylian Mbappe stepped up and coolly struck the ball into the bottom right corner, sending goalkeeper Orlando Gill the wrong way to hand France the breakthrough in the 70th minute.

The penalty was Mbappe’s seventh goal of the tournament, pulling him level with Lionel Messi atop the Golden Boot leaderboard. It also marked his 19th career World Cup goal in 19 appearances, moving him within one of Messi’s all-time record of 20. Since 2018, Mbappe has now scored more goals in the knockout stages of the World Cup (11) than Brazil (10), England (10), Portugal (9), and Spain (4) combined.

The tension continued after the final whistle. When Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill approached to shake hands, Mbappe reportedly ignored him, prompting Gill to throw the ball at the French captain in frustration. Speaking about his actions, Gill said: “Obviously I was angry. Then I calmed down. I congratulate France for having an excellent campaign and deserving to be a world champion.” Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro remained unrepentant, defending his team’s approach: “We fought like lions. France couldn’t play their usual style. They couldn’t find a solution and had to rely on a bit of individual skill and a VAR-confirmed penalty to make the difference.” France coach Didier Deschamps, who became the first manager to secure 10 World Cup knockout victories, offered a measured response: “They use every trick in the book. It’s not the kind of football that will bring people to the stadium, but they defended well. It is always difficult against these South American teams.” Mbappe himself addressed the controversy: “We knew what kind of match it was going to be. We can also get our hands dirty. We know how to do it. We know how to play ugly football. They thought we’d show up in tuxedos, but we were ready. Even at that kind of game, we were better than them.”

The 1-0 victory secured France’s place in the quarter-finals, where they will face Morocco at Boston Stadium. The match is scheduled for Thursday, July 9, with a 21:00 BST kick-off. France, runners-up to Argentina in the 2022 final, continue their pursuit of becoming the first team to reach three straight World Cup finals since Brazil from 1994 to 2002.

Mbappe Penalty Sends France Past Paraguay in Heated World Cup Clash

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Inter Milan Agree £30m Deal for Liverpool’s Curtis Jones as English Colony Grows

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Inter Milan Agree £30m Deal for Liverpool's Curtis Jones as English Colony Grows

Inter Milan Agree £30m Deal for Liverpool’s Curtis Jones as English Colony Grows

Inter Milan have reached an agreement with Liverpool for the transfer of midfielder Curtis Jones in a deal worth up to €35 million (£30 million), bringing an end to the 25-year-old’s 16-year association with his boyhood club. The Serie A champions will pay an initial €30 million (£25.7 million) with a further €5 million (£4.3 million) in performance-related add-ons. Liverpool have also secured a 10% sell-on clause as part of the agreement for their academy graduate. Jones is now expected to fly to Italy for a medical examination on Thursday, with the deal expected to be completed in the coming days.

The move represents the culmination of a long-running pursuit by Inter, who have tracked Jones throughout the summer. The Nerazzurri first attempted to sign the midfielder in January, proposing a loan with an option to buy, but Liverpool rejected that approach. In June, Inter had a verbal offer of approximately €25 million (£21.7 million) turned down, with Liverpool valuing the 25-year-old at around €40 million (£35 million). More recently, Liverpool indicated that a package similar to the £30 million Inter paid Tottenham for Djed Spence would likely facilitate a deal, and a breakthrough was achieved.

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Jones joined Liverpool’s academy at the age of nine and progressed through the ranks to make his first-team debut under Jurgen Klopp in 2019. He has made 228 appearances for the Reds across all competitions, scoring 22 goals and winning six major honours, including two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, and two League Cups. In December 2025, Jones became the youngest midfielder since Steven Gerrard to reach a double-century of outings for Liverpool. However, the 25-year-old found regular first-team football increasingly difficult to secure. In the 2025-26 season, he made 34 Premier League appearances but started only 18 matches, featuring in 49 matches across all competitions. With Jones entering the final 12 months of his contract, Liverpool faced the prospect of losing him for nothing next summer if a new deal could not be agreed. From the club’s perspective, the £30 million package represents pure profit on a home-grown asset, and it was a case of selling now, accepting a lower fee in January, or losing him for free. New head coach Andoni Iraola had publicly expressed a desire to keep the Toxteth-born midfielder, but ultimately the club decided to cash in.

Jones will become the third English player to join Inter this summer, following the arrivals of John Stones on a free transfer from Manchester City and Djed Spence from Tottenham. The English contingent is part of a deliberate strategic move by the Nerazzurri, with Jones adding technical ability, dynamism, and possession-based football knowledge to a midfield already featuring the likes of Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Piotr Zielinski. Historically, English players at Inter have been a rarity. Gerry Hitchens, who arrived from Aston Villa in 1961, was the first notable name, winning the Scudetto in 1962-63. Paul Ince followed in 1995 but failed to win silverware, while Ashley Young became the first English player to win the Serie A title with Inter in 2020-21. The simultaneous arrival of Stones, Spence, and Jones represents an unprecedented concentration of English talent at the club.

Jones is believed to be eager for a new challenge, and the move to Inter offers him the opportunity for regular first-team football in a new league. The presence of fellow English internationals in Milan is also expected to help the Scouse midfielder settle into life in Italy. With Liverpool now lighter in midfield, youngster Trey Nyoni, who impressed during pre-season, could be in line for a more prominent role at Anfield.

Inter Milan Agree £30m Deal for Liverpool’s Curtis Jones as English Colony Grows

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Georgina Rodríguez reveals why she, Ronaldo married in their living room

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Georgina Rodríguez reveals why she, Ronaldo married in their living room
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez

Georgina Rodríguez reveals why she, Ronaldo married in their living room

Georgina Rodríguez has revealed why she and football star Cristiano Ronaldo chose to marry in the living room of their home in Cascais, Portugal, instead of holding the lavish celebrity wedding many might have expected.

The couple tied the knot in an intimate civil ceremony on August 11, 2026, almost a decade after they first met at a Gucci store in Madrid, where Rodríguez was working as a sales assistant.

The private ceremony took place at their summer home in Cascais, near Lisbon, with their five children and four witnesses in attendance.

Speaking to Vogue, Rodríguez said her idea of a dream wedding had changed considerably as she grew older and built a family with Ronaldo.

She recalled that as a young girl, she had imagined an extravagant wedding complete with a magnificent castle, an elaborate carriage, a long gown and a diamond crown.

However, her priorities changed over the years. Rodríguez said she eventually realised that she wanted something much more personal and meaningful.

She explained that rather than celebrating with a large crowd, she wanted to share the occasion with Ronaldo and their children in the comfort of their own home.

According to Rodríguez, the couple already had access to luxury properties, cars, horses and other symbols of wealth. Because of that, she felt that another extravagant display would not be as meaningful as a private family moment.

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The couple therefore chose their living room — the same space where they regularly eat breakfast, lunch and dinner — as the setting for their wedding vows.

For Rodríguez, the decision was also about creating a lasting memory for their children.

She said she wanted them to look back decades from now and remember that their parents exchanged their wedding vows at the same table where the family shared everyday meals and moments together.

The intimate nature of the ceremony did not mean that the couple overlooked the significance of their appearance.

Rodríguez wore a white silk Gucci outfit with satin shoes, while Ronaldo wore a light beige suit with custom loafers.

The involvement of Gucci also carried a special significance because the couple’s relationship began at the fashion house’s Madrid store in 2016.

Gucci creative director Demna Gvasalia described the opportunity to dress Rodríguez and Ronaldo for their wedding as particularly meaningful because of the connection between the brand and the beginning of their relationship.

The couple’s wedding was also documented by renowned photographer Juergen Teller, giving them a private record of the occasion.

Their celebration did not end with the civil ceremony. The couple later visited the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima for a religious blessing, according to reports.

Despite opting for a private wedding at home, Rodríguez confirmed that she and Ronaldo intend to hold a larger celebration in the future.

She said the planned event would allow their relatives and friends to celebrate their marriage with them.

Ronaldo and Rodríguez began their relationship in 2016 and subsequently built a family together. They became engaged on August 11, 2025, exactly one year before their wedding.

The couple have five children in their family, including Ronaldo’s eldest son Cristiano Jr., twins Eva and Mateo, and their daughters Alana and Bella. They also suffered the loss of their newborn son Ángel in 2022.

The decision to marry at home marked a notably private moment for one of football’s most famous couples.

Rather than making their wedding about luxury or celebrity attention, Rodríguez said the couple wanted the occasion to reflect their family life and create a memory that their children could carry with them for years to come.

Georgina Rodríguez reveals why she, Ronaldo married in their living room

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WAFCON 2026: Cameroon beat Malawi 3-0 to claim first-ever continental crown

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WAFCON 2026: Cameroon beat Malawi 3-0 to claim first-ever continental crown
Cameroons Indomitable Lionesses

WAFCON 2026: Cameroon beat Malawi 3-0 to claim first-ever continental crown

For decades, the trophy had remained agonizingly out of reach. Three finals. Three defeats. Zero goals scored. But on a balmy Sunday evening at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses finally rewrote their painful history, delivering a devastating first-half performance to defeat tournament debutants Malawi 3-0 and secure their first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title.

The victory not only ended Cameroon’s long-running final jinx but also established the Central African nation as just the fourth country ever to win Africa’s premier women’s football competition, joining an elite list that includes record champions Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and South Africa. More significantly, Cameroon became only the third African nation—after Nigeria and South Africa—to win both the men’s and women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles, cementing their place as a true powerhouse of African football.

From the opening whistle, Cameroon made their intentions clear. The Lionesses attacked with relentless intensity, and their pressure paid off spectacularly in the 20th minute. A well-worked move into the Malawi box created chaos among the Scorchers’ defenders, and Marie Manga rose highest to power a close-range header past the Malawi goalkeeper, sending the Cameroonian supporters into raptures. Just nine minutes later, in the 29th minute, the lead was doubled through a moment of individual brilliance. Naomi Eto, who had been a constant threat throughout the tournament, received the ball with her back to goal, turned sharply, and unleashed a stunning volley that flew into the corner of the net, leaving the Malawi defense completely helpless.

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The crowning blow arrived in first-half stoppage time, deep into the 45th minute. Eto turned provider this time, delivering a perfectly weighted cross that found Manga unmarked in the box. The striker made no mistake, calmly slotting home her second goal of the night to make it 3-0. It was a scoreline that effectively ended the contest before the interval and sent the Lionesses into the dressing room with an unassailable lead.

Malawi, playing in their first-ever WAFCON final, showed far more urgency and attacking intent after the restart. The Scorchers looked to their star sisters, Temwa Chawinga and Tabitha Chawinga, for inspiration, and the duo tried desperately to engineer a comeback. Temwa, who had already scored five goals in the tournament to win the Golden Boot, was closely marshaled by Cameroon’s disciplined defense, while Tabitha’s creative runs were repeatedly snuffed out by the Lionesses’ well-organized backline. Goalkeeper Michaely Bihina, who would later be awarded the Golden Glove for her outstanding performances throughout the competition, stood tall between the posts, making crucial saves whenever Malawi threatened. Statistical data from the match showed Cameroon registered 14 shots with 6 on target, while Malawi managed 9 shots with 3 on target. The Lionesses also had a slight edge in corners, winning 6 to Malawi’s 3, underscoring their attacking dominance.

When the final whistle finally blew, the scenes were one of pure jubilation. Cameroonian players collapsed to the turf in tears of joy, while substitutes and coaching staff raced onto the pitch to join the celebrations. For a team that had suffered heartbreaking final defeats in 2004, 2014, and 2016—all at the hands of Nigeria—this triumph represented the ultimate redemption. The victory was especially sweet given that Cameroon had initially failed to qualify for this expanded 16-team tournament before being added based on their world ranking, making their journey to the title even more remarkable.

The post-tournament individual awards further highlighted Cameroon’s dominance. Monique Ngock, who delivered commanding performances in midfield throughout the competition, was deservedly named Player of the Tournament, while Bihina’s heroics between the posts earned her the Golden Glove award. Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga, despite her team’s defeat, finished as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals, claiming the Golden Boot as a consolation for her remarkable individual campaign.

For Malawi, the tournament will forever be remembered as a historic breakthrough. The Scorchers, who entered the competition as the lowest-ranked team in the tournament at 153rd in the world, stunned defending champions Nigeria in the group stage before overcoming Ghana and Algeria in the knockout rounds to reach their maiden final. Their remarkable run also secured automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, a monumental achievement for a team that was playing in their very first WAFCON. Despite the final defeat, the Scorchers returned home as heroes, having captured the hearts of football fans across Africa.

The 2026 WAFCON concluded with Cameroon’s historic triumph bringing the curtain down on a memorable tournament. Algeria claimed the bronze medal after defeating hosts Morocco in the third-place playoff, but the night unequivocally belonged to the Indomitable Lionesses. As the trophy was lifted high above Rabat, it marked not just the end of a long wait, but the beginning of a new era for Cameroonian and African women’s football.

WAFCON 2026: Cameroon beat Malawi 3-0 to claim first-ever continental crown

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