France reached the next round with a 1-0 win over Paraguay, but the margin was much tighter than their control suggested. They had 76% possession, 15 shots to 5, 5 shots on target to 0, and 12 corners to 2, yet needed a single penalty to settle it.
The decisive spell came midway through the second half. A 67th-minute VAR incident involving Désiré Doué preceded Kylian Mbappé’s 70th-minute penalty, which became the only goal. Paraguay responded with changes immediately after, introducing Gabriel Ávalos and Mauricio in the 71st minute, but still finished without a shot on target.
France also had to manage discipline while protecting the lead. Bradley Barcola was booked in the 19th minute for a foul, Manu Koné in the 81st for a foul, and Michael Olise in the 90th for argument.
Zavit match desk — generated from live match data