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Mbappe Penalty Sends France Past Paraguay in Heated World Cup Clash

Published

3 months ago

July 6, 2026

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

Related Topics:France Mbappe Paraguay World Cup

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Portugal Beat Denmark 4-2 Without Ronaldo in Nations League Clash

Published

3 days ago

October 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Portugal Beat Denmark 4-2 Without Ronaldo in Nations League Clash

Portugal defeated Denmark 4-2 in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday, producing a strong performance despite the absence of captain Cristiano Ronaldo.

The result extended Portugal’s perfect start under head coach Jorge Jesus, who has now overseen three victories from three matches since taking charge of the national team.

Playing in Copenhagen, Portugal took the lead in the 13th minute when João Cancelo finished from close range after Denmark struggled to clear the ball.

The hosts responded when Mikkel Damsgaard produced a composed finish to level the score.

Portugal regained the advantage shortly afterwards through Gonçalo Ramos, who found the net at the near post to make it 2-1.

Denmark refused to surrender and drew level again early in the second half through Rasmus Højlund.

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Portugal then regained control of the contest, with Vitinha heading home in the 57th minute to restore the visitors’ lead.

João Félix completed the scoring three minutes from full time, finishing a counter-attack to secure the 4-2 victory.

The match was played against the backdrop of Ronaldo’s absence after the veteran forward left Portugal’s training camp before the game.

Ronaldo’s departure followed a decision by Jesus not to start him against Denmark. The 41-year-old subsequently said in a social media post that he would explain the circumstances surrounding his exit at a later time.

With Ronaldo unavailable, Jesus handed Ramos the responsibility of leading the attack, and the Paris Saint-Germain forward responded with Portugal’s second goal.

The victory moved Portugal to nine points from three matches in the competition and maintained their winning run under Jesus.

Denmark, meanwhile, were left to reflect on another match in which they twice came from behind but were unable to prevent Portugal from taking all three points.

Portugal will continue their Nations League campaign against Norway, while attention is expected to remain on Ronaldo and his future involvement with the national team.

Portugal Beat Denmark 4-2 Without Ronaldo in Nations League Clash

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Why Ronaldo Left Portugal Camp Ahead of Denmark Clash

Published

4 days ago

October 1, 2026

Trends Admin

Cristiano Ronaldo

Why Ronaldo Left Portugal Camp Ahead of Denmark Clash

Cristiano Ronaldo has left the Portugal national team camp ahead of the country’s UEFA Nations League meeting with Denmark, following reports of tension over his role in the team.

Ronaldo’s departure came after Portugal coach Jorge Jesus confirmed that the 41-year-old forward would not start against Denmark.

The situation reportedly followed Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway, when Ronaldo remained on the bench throughout the match despite warming up during the game.

According to reports, Ronaldo was unhappy after he was not introduced and went straight to the dressing room at the final whistle rather than joining his teammates in acknowledging the Portuguese supporters.

Jesus later addressed the issue and acknowledged that Ronaldo was unhappy with the decision, but denied that there had been a major confrontation between the two.

The Portugal coach also dismissed reports that Ronaldo had refused to train, explaining that the forward had instead completed individual mobility and strengthening exercises.

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The situation intensified after Jesus confirmed that Ronaldo would again not be in the starting lineup for the Denmark vs Portugal fixture, with Gonçalo Ramos expected to lead the attack.

Jesus said Ronaldo could still be introduced as a substitute depending on how the match developed.

Ronaldo subsequently held a conversation with Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença before leaving the national team camp in Copenhagen.

The Portugal captain later posted a statement on social media confirming his departure and indicating that he would explain the circumstances behind the decision at a later time.

He did not directly accuse Jesus or the Portuguese federation of wrongdoing in the statement.

The episode has nevertheless generated renewed questions about Ronaldo’s role in the Portugal national team, particularly as he approaches the later stages of his international career.

Ronaldo remains Portugal’s record goalscorer and one of the country’s most decorated players. He has also previously indicated that his playing career is approaching its final stage.

For now, the confirmed sequence is that Ronaldo was left unused against Norway, Jesus subsequently announced that he would not start against Denmark, Ronaldo met with the federation president and then left the training camp.

Portugal’s immediate focus remains its Nations League campaign, while further details about Ronaldo’s decision are expected to emerge if the player follows through on his promise to explain the circumstances.

Why Ronaldo Left Portugal Camp Ahead of Denmark Clash

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Super Eagles Suffer Bissau Nightmare as Guinea-Bissau Smash Nigeria 3-0

Published

5 days ago

September 30, 2026

Trends Admin

Super Eagles after their defeat to Guinea Bissau

Super Eagles Suffer Bissau Nightmare as Guinea-Bissau Smash Nigeria 3-0

Nigeria’s Super Eagles suffered a stunning 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday night, as their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign suffered a major setback in Bissau.

The hosts produced a dominant display at the Estádio Nacional 24 de Setembro, scoring once in the first half and twice after the break to move to the top of Group L with six points from two matches.

Franculino Djú put Guinea-Bissau ahead in the 15th minute after receiving a long pass from Renato Nhaga. He worked his way into the Nigerian penalty area before curling a left-footed effort beyond goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.

The Super Eagles struggled to find their rhythm after conceding and failed to create enough clear chances to trouble the hosts before the interval.

Coach Eric Chelle responded at the start of the second half by introducing Moses Simon and Moses Usor for Taiwo Awoniyi and Frank Onyeka.

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The changes did little to alter the pattern of the match, with Guinea-Bissau continuing to pose the greater attacking threat.

The hosts doubled their advantage in the 66th minute through Mama Baldé, who collected a pass from Mamadi Camará before cutting into the Nigerian box and firing a low shot past Nwabali.

Chelle subsequently brought on George Ilenikhena and Raphael Onyedika for Akor Adams and Wilfred Ndidi, while Tolu Arokodare replaced Ademola Lookman.

Ilenikhena came close to reducing the deficit late in the game, but Guinea-Bissau goalkeeper Embadjé made another important save to preserve his side’s two-goal advantage.

Nigeria’s miserable night was completed in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Álvaro Djaló finished a through ball from Tamble Monteiro to make it 3-0.

The result leaves Nigeria with three points from two matches, following their opening 2-1 victory over Madagascar.

Guinea-Bissau, meanwhile, have six points after beating Tanzania 2-0 in their opening fixture before defeating Nigeria.

Madagascar and Tanzania drew 1-1 in the other Group L match.

With Tanzania already guaranteed a place at the 2027 AFCON as one of the tournament co-hosts, Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar are competing for the qualifying position available to the highest-ranked non-host nation in the group.

The Super Eagles will have an opportunity to respond when they face Tanzania in a double-header during the November international window.

For Chelle and his players, however, the 3-0 defeat in Bissau leaves little room for another disappointing performance as the AFCON 2027 qualifying race continues.