Deschamps warns extreme heat could test France against Paraguay in last 16

PHILADELPHIA, July 3 : France manager Didier Deschamps knows what to expect from the extreme heat forecast for Saturday's World Cup round of 16 clash with Paraguay after attending matches at last year’s Club World Cup.

Highs are forecast around 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) with significant humidity and peak temperatures are expected an hour or two before the 5 p.m. ET kickoff in Philadelphia.

Similar heat affected numerous matches at last year’s Club World Cup tournament also hosted in the United States.

“I was with (France assistant coach) Guy Stephan at the final and semi-final of the Club World Cup,” Deschamps said on Friday. “We were in the stadium. We saw that it was quite hot, and we could discuss. And it did have an impact.

“Now, is this good for the players' health as soon as there are extreme conditions, whether it's heat or cold or a hard pitch? It's not ideal.

“But we didn't choose, so we adapt and we anticipate.”

Deschamps also reflected on the last time the sides met in a competitive game, when the midfielder played all 120 minutes of a 1-0 win over Paraguay in the last-16 on France’s march to the 1998 World Cup title.

He suggested Saturday’s task could be as tough as that match, decided by Laurent Blanc’s 114th-minute winner.

“It was a very good time for France. It was a very tough game.  This is part of the history of football and the World Cup,” he said.

“This match tomorrow is different. It is a different team. It is a Paraguayan team who really want to do it and they have quality.

“(Julio) Enciso, for example, has had a very good season with Strasbourg in France. He is a player with lots of influence in his team. Him and (Miguel) Almiron are players with great technical quality.”

With oddsmakers heavily