Deschamps Blasts Paraguay's Cheap Shots After France's 1-0 World Cup Win

3 articles · Updated · FOX Sports · Jul 5

France advanced 1-0 to the World Cup quarterfinals, but Didier Deschamps focused on Paraguay’s repeated “cheap shots” rather than the result after a heated round-of-16 match in Philadelphia.
Kylian Mbappé scored the 70th-minute winner from the penalty spot after sustained physical pressure, with France players saying Paraguay used shoves, off-ball contact and kicks to disrupt them throughout.
Three notable fouls on Mbappé during play brought no yellow cards, while France received the match’s only three bookings and Paraguay was cautioned only after the final whistle for dissent.
Tempers spilled over after the game when Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill threw a ball at Mbappé’s back, later saying he lost his temper after being ignored during a handshake attempt.
Deschamps said Paraguay used “every trick in the book,” underscoring how France viewed the knockout win as a bruising battle as much as a football match.