France survive Paraguay’s ‘disgraceful’ and ’embarrassing’ dark arts
Sports News
“Paraguay’s players were an absolute disgrace,” former England goalkeeper Joe Hart told BBC One. “If they were on my team, I’d be dragging them off the pitch.”
After dismantling all before them at this World Cup, France had to find a new way to win to keep alive their dream of regaining the trophy they last lifted in 2018. Their 1-0 victory over Paraguay was hard earned.
Paraguay had won over neutrals by causing a major shock in the last 32, knocking out Germany on penalties.
Key Moments
But, in a bad-tempered match in the punishing Philadelphia heat, they showed their ugly side.
Andres Cubas escaped a booking after clattering into Adrien Rabiot. Juan Jose Caceres kicked out at Kylian Mbappe, and that went unpunished too.
Astonishingly, while Les Bleus players Manu Kone, Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise were all cautioned, not one Paraguay player was booked. Not even when Gabriel Avalos dropped his elbow into the stomach of Dayot Upamecano when Paraguay were chasing the game.
Analysis
“It was embarrassing to see,” former England defender Micah Richards told BBC One.
“Paraguay are better than that. Defensively they were so good and they didn’t need to get into these antics.”
France’s victory secured a quarter-final date with Morocco at Boston Stadium on Thursday (21:00 BST kick-off).
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