Beau Dure 

Paraguay v France: World Cup last 16 – live

Minute-by-minute report: Can Mbappé and France secure a quarter-final spot or will Paraguay produce another shock? Join Beau Dure for updates
  
  

France fans celebrate in the stands during their group-stage game in Philadelphia.
France fans are headed back to Philadelphia, the site of a group-stage win over Iraq, for their team’s last-16 tie with Paraguay. Photograph: Image Photo Agency/Getty Images

Beau will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s a brief guide today’s game:

What to watch for

France might be unstoppable. Didier Deschamps’ side have flattened every opponent they have faced at the 2026 World Cup so far with their forward line of Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise scoring and creating goals for fun. Les Bleus are playing like favorites.

Paraguay, however, know what it takes to upset the odds having already knocked out Germany. The South Americans have never beaten France in four previous meetings spanning 68 years, but have a game plan that could make it difficult for the World Cup favorites to break them down.

Player to watch: Michael Olise, France - By registering a brace of assists in the win over Sweden, Olise highlighted his importance to France as their creator-in-chief. He might be even better as a number 10 than a right winger.

 

Leave a Comment

Required fields are marked *

*

*