Paraguay’s Intense Strategy in World Cup Clash with France in Philadelphia

In a fiercely contested match at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, Paraguay deployed a physical strategy against France during their 2026 World Cup Round of 16 encounter. This approach closely resembled that of the Philadelphia Eagles’ NFL games played at the same stadium, noted for their toughness and grit.

France secured a 1-0 win over Paraguay, with Kylian Mbappé scoring the decisive penalty in the 70th minute. The match, however, was marked by a series of aggressive plays by Paraguay aimed at disrupting France’s rhythm.

I had never played a match like this, with so many hits, said Manu Koné, a French midfielder. Cheap shots, shoves in the back. So, yes, it was complicated.

Throughout the game, Paraguay targeted Mbappé. Andrés Cubas and Matias Galarza engaged in physical confrontations with him, while Juan José Cáceres struck his shin. Surprisingly, none of these actions resulted in yellow cards for Paraguay, while France received three yellow cards.

The conclusion of the match saw tensions rise further. Orlando Gill, Paraguay’s goalkeeper, threw a ball at Mbappé during an exchange near the center circle.

I tried to shake his hand, but since he didn’t pay me any attention, I lost my temper, Gill expressed.

Paraguay’s approach was intentional. From the very first moment, we set out to make our presence felt on the pitch—to play hard, Gill explained. Their strategy focused on preventing the ball and the opponent from advancing simultaneously.

France managed to navigate these challenges, though, as expressed by Kylian Mbappé. We knew what kind of match it was going to be. We can also get our hands dirty, he commented, affirming their readiness to engage in a physical battle.

After the win, both teams reflected on the match’s intensity. Didier Deschamps, France’s coach, criticized the tactics used by Paraguay, stating, It’s not the kind of football that draws people to the stadium. Meanwhile, William Saliba, a French player, summed it up by saying, We fought a battle. We won the battle.