Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro praised his team's relentless effort, describing them as having 'fought like lions' in their 1-0 World Cup defeat to France. The match, held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, saw Paraguay bow out in the last-16 stage.
Narrow Defeat
The decisive moment came in the 70th minute when France's Kylian Mbappe converted a penalty, awarded by VAR, to break the deadlock. Despite the loss, Paraguay's performance was commendable, especially considering it was their first World Cup appearance since 2010.
Coach's Praise
Alfaro highlighted the team's hard work and determination, stating, 'France couldn't find the answers, and it took a bit of individual skill and a penalty given by VAR to make the difference which their football had not been able to do.' He emphasized the team's spirit, saying, 'It took us 16 years to get back to a World Cup, while Mbappe won the World Cup the first time he played in it, got to the final in his second and now is fighting to be the top scorer.'
Tactical Approach
Paraguay's tactics aimed to unsettle France, which irritated Mbappe and led coach Didier Deschamps to accuse Paraguay of issuing verbal insults. Despite this, Alfaro insisted his players had shown great fight on the pitch.
Historical Context
Paraguay's only victories in the knockout stages of the World Cup have come in penalty shoot-outs, including a notable win against Germany in Boston during the last 32. Alfaro acknowledged the team's disappointment but remained positive about their performance, saying, 'We worked so hard to get a different result but I will leave here with the knowledge that we came to compete and we did compete.'
Looking Ahead
Although Paraguay's journey in this World Cup has ended, Alfaro believes the experience has made the team stronger. 'I have no doubt that this World Cup has made us all better, although I am sad to go out because I hoped we might go further,' he concluded.
