PHILADELPHIA — After seeing what Paraguay did to Germany just a few days earlier at Gillette Stadium, France knew what it could expect in its round of 16 matchup.
Les Bleus weathered the test of Paraguay's defense — and the near-100-degree Fahrenheit heat — on Saturday, July 4 with a 1-0 win over La Albirroja at Lincoln Financial Field to move one step closer to finishing off their redemption tour.
"It could have gone another way," France coach Didier Deschamps said. "If we did respond to provocation, it could have been bad. Germany did respond and I said, 'Please stay focused, focus on what we are able to do.'"
France's attack had been humming coming into the match, but Paraguay's compact, "parking the bus" formation and defensive approach threw that off gear. Les Bleus arrived on Saturday having outscored their previous four opponents 13–2, while averaging at least three goals in every one of those outings.
Kylian Mbappe scored the game's lone goal in the 70th minute on a penalty kick after Desire Doué was taken down by Diego Gómez in the box. He now sits at 19 career World Cup goals, one shy of tying Lionel Messi for the tournament's all-time scoring record.
Les Bleus weathered the test of Paraguay's defense — and the near-100-degree Fahrenheit heat — on Saturday, July 4 with a 1-0 win over La Albirroja at Lincoln Financial Field to move one step closer to finishing off their redemption tour.
"It could have gone another way," France coach Didier Deschamps said. "If we did respond to provocation, it could have been bad. Germany did respond and I said, 'Please stay focused, focus on what we are able to do.'"
France's attack had been humming coming into the match, but Paraguay's compact, "parking the bus" formation and defensive approach threw that off gear. Les Bleus arrived on Saturday having outscored their previous four opponents 13–2, while averaging at least three goals in every one of those outings.
Kylian Mbappe scored the game's lone goal in the 70th minute on a penalty kick after Desire Doué was taken down by Diego Gómez in the box. He now sits at 19 career World Cup goals, one shy of tying Lionel Messi for the tournament's all-time scoring record.
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