Mbappé targeted as Paraguay’s dark arts fail to unsettle France | OneFootball

France reached the World Cup quarter-finals after a bruising last-16 win over Paraguay, who targeted Kylian Mbappé but failed to rattle the captain.

At Lincoln Financial Field, Paraguay flipped the pre-match narrative by suggesting France would be the aggressors, L'Équipe reports. Their approach often skirted the line between robust and reckless.

The first flashpoint came on 35 minutes. Three minutes later Matias Galarza struck Mbappé’s forearm with a swinging arm, and play continued without a whistle.

Referee Ilgiz Tantashev allowed plenty of physicality, issuing only three bookings, all to French players Barcola, Koné and Olise, sometimes for blatant simulations by La Albirroja.

During the second drinks break Didier Deschamps admonished his side as they started to answer back with taunts. Moments earlier he had separated team-mates as they shielded Mbappé, who was encircled by five Paraguayans squaring up.

Désiré Doué offered the template. Fresh on at 62 minutes he might have earned a free-kick on the edge of the box, stayed quiet, then drew a penalty on 65 that preceded the opener on 70.

Post-match, Mbappé said France were ready to do the dirty work and that Paraguay had expected them to arrive in dinner jackets, adding that his side handled it. France were not flamboyant, but they kept their heads to progress.

Source: L'Équipe