France captain Kylian Mbappe emphasized that his team is willing to play a physical game to advance in the World Cup. After a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Paraguay in the last-16 tie, Mbappe scored the decisive penalty in the 70th minute, bringing his tournament tally to seven goals and his overall World Cup goal count to 19.
A Scrappy Affair
The match in Philadelphia was marked by its physicality, with Mbappe continually goaded by Paraguayan defenders. Despite the challenging conditions, Mbappe remained focused, scoring the winning goal and helping France progress to the next stage.
"We knew what sort of match we were in for, but I think today went really well," Mbappe said after the game. "They thought we'd turn up in tuxedos, that we'd just come to pull off some spectacular moves. But we know how to play the dirty game too. And we did that today; we won, and even in that respect we were better than them."
France's Tactical Flexibility
Mbappe highlighted France's ability to adapt their style of play. "The way we played today showed that we're not just a team that knows how to play attacking football. If we have to get our hands dirty, we'll get our hands dirty. Sorry for the expression, but we've no problem with that."
The scrappy nature of the game saw only three yellow cards, all issued to French players. Despite the tense atmosphere, Mbappe remained composed, showcasing his leadership on the field.
Looking Ahead to the Quarter-Finals
France's next challenge will be a quarter-final clash with Morocco in Boston. Mbappe is looking forward to the match, acknowledging Morocco's strengths. "We know they're a very good team. And we're really looking forward to playing against them," he said.
The upcoming match against Morocco will be a repeat of the 2022 semi-final, which France won 2-0. Mbappe is confident that France will give their all to continue their journey in the tournament. "We'll give it our all to keep moving forward."
