Kylian Mbappe was at the centre of a shameful display by Paraguay stars during their quarter-final clash as pundits labelled the South Americans a ‘disgrace’ for their dirty tactics.
Kylian Mbappe was the target of dirty tactics by Paraguay as the Real Madrid star overcame hostility to fire France into the quarter-finals.
France edged past Paraguay 1-0 in a bad-tempered World Cup clash that was overshadowed by brutal tackles and a post-match melee. Emotions boiled over, and both benches emptied at the final whistle as the South American outfit reacted with fury to their exit.
Kylian Mbappe endured a heated confrontation with Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill during their fiery World Cup knockout encounter. The French superstar eventually overcame Gill by coolly slotting home a second-half spot-kick to clinch victory before subsequently refusing to shake his hand. Gill hurled the ball at him in retaliation before the French ace slammed their unsightly style of play.
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Pundits Joe Hart and Thomas Hitzlsperger both branded Paraguay a ‘disgrace’ for their cynical approach throughout the encounter
But France overcame the reaction to win and confirm the opening quarter-final matchup. They will meet Morocco at Boston Stadium at 9pm on Thursday after the African nation’s 3-0 demolition of Canada on Saturday evening.
Canada issued a heartfelt statement recognising that “the hurt is real” after their crushing defeat to Morocco. Despite the devastating exit, the squad thanked their supporters and voiced enormous pride in creating Canadian football history. Here, the Daily Star Sport rounds up the overnight action at the World Cup.
France racism storm
The French Football Association (FFF) has issued a strong condemnation of former Paraguay goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert following accusations that he posted a ‘racist’ comment on social media. Chilavert ignited international fury ahead of the World Cup match by stating his country was gearing up to face a “squad from Africa.”
FFF chief Philippe Diallo responded on X: “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the racist remarks made by José Luis Chilavert against the French national team, which undermine the values of respect, fraternity, and diversity in our football. “
Jesse Marsch’s ‘cringeworthy’ comment
Canada boss Jesse Marsch has been mocked by fans for a ‘cringeworthy’ comment after his team were eliminated from the World Cup.
The former Leeds United boss said: “What a privilege our fans have had to root a team on like this. [A team] that goes after the game, that doesn’t play defensive, that shows that they can be better.
“Of course, we have to be in these situations more and more. And then we have to find ways to succeed and build on that. I’d rather be us than them! As good as Morocco is, I’d rather be us.
“I’m really proud of our guys, we went after the game. They’re hurting right now but I couldn’t be prouder.”
Thomas Tuchel addresses Mexico concerns
England manager Thomas Tuchel has categorically dismissed ongoing concerns about his team’s treatment while competing in Mexico. Instead, he voiced full trust in FIFA’s management of the situation, supporting the governing body to guarantee a safe and fair environment for his squad.
The England boss also confessed to suffering a “slight headache” as his squad adjusted to the extreme altitude of Mexico City. Despite the physical strain of the environment, the manager maintains confidence that his players are ready to cope with the challenging conditions on the field.
Mexico manager Javier Aguirre, on the other hand, rejected suggestions that playing at high altitude in Mexico City will provide his team an unfair advantage over England.
England injury update
Tuchel offered a crucial defensive injury update ahead of his team’s World Cup Round of 16 showdown against host nation Mexico. He confirmed that Jarell Quansah has recovered from an ankle twist and is fit to play, but Reece James remains a significant doubt.
“Jarrell trained and is fully available,” Tuchel said. “Reece can maybe make it on the bench, but we need a last assessment from the doctors and a medical opinion.”
Manager quits
Herve Renard has suddenly stepped down as Tunisia’s manager following a turbulent 18-day spell during the 2026 World Cup. His swift exit comes after a catastrophic group-stage campaign that saw the African side prop up their group with three comprehensive losses.
He had taken over from the dismissed Sabri Lamouchi following their opening 5-1 hammering by Sweden.