Fifa World Cup: Kylian Mbappé penalty sees France overcome Paraguay in tense encounter

NZ Herald sports reporters Alex Powell and Cam McMillan join Ryan Bridge TODAY to discuss the All Blacks and the latest from the World Cup. Video / Ryan Bridge TODAY

Kylian Mbappé scored from the penalty spot as France overcame searing heat and stubborn defence to beat Paraguay 1-0 and set up a World Cup quarter-final against Morocco on Sunday.

France captain Mbappé coolly stroked in a 70th-minute spot kick to settle a tense duel with the tough-tackling Paraguayans in furnace-like conditions at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.

The goal was Mbappé’s seventh, putting him alongside Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot.

Paraguay, who pulled off a massive upset in the last 32 by ousting four-time champions Germany on penalties, frustrated France for long periods with an ultra-disciplined defensive effort.

But the introduction of substitute Desire Doue for left winger Bradley Barcola in the 61st minute led to the breakthrough.

Paris Saint-Germain player Doue cut in menacingly from the left and jinked past several Paraguayan players before being upended by Diego Gomez in the area.

There was a brief delay after referee Ilgiz Tantashev waved play on, but when the incident was sent to the video assistant referee (VAR) for review, the Uzbek official swiftly pointed to the spot.

Mbappé stepped up and duly converted with aplomb to settle a match that had been played in temperatures of around 38C as a heatwave roasted the northeastern United States as it celebrated the July 4 holiday.

France will now face Morocco in the quarter-finals in Foxborough, outside Boston – a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final won by Les Bleus.

Morocco booked their place in the last eight earlier in the day after ending co-hosts Canada’s World Cup campaign with a clinical 3-0 victory in Houston.

Sunday’s games kicked off the Round of 16 as the tournament reaches its final stages.

On Monday, England face Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in a much-anticipated encounter while Brazil take on Norway at East Rutherford in New Jersey.

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