Kylian Mbappe penalty sends France into last eight with win over Paraguay

Kylian Mbappe’s penalty booked France’s spot in the quarter-finals of the World Cup as they edged a 1-0 win over Paraguay in a bad-tempered Philadelphia contest.

Les Bleus controlled the first half but struggled to break through the Paraguay defence in a last-16 contest played out in sweltering conditions, with temperatures hitting around 38C.

Mbappe broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the 70th minute, his seventh goal of the tournament moving him level with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot standings.

The France skipper’s spot-kick set up a last-eight clash with Morocco, who beat Canada earlier on Saturday.

Mbappe had an early attempt booted away by Omar Alderete and Michael Olise’s intended cross for Adrien Rabiot was cleared as France looked to strike in the opening minutes.

Les Bleus moved the ball well around the Paraguay box and dominated possession, but struggled to find the target against a side whose defending was both resolute and regularly cynical.

Manu Kone hit an effort wide and after the hydration break, Ousmane Dembele’s low cross almost caused problems when it took a deflection and trickled across the face of goal before being cleared.

Rabiot fired over the crossbar from distance while, at the opposite end, Mike Maignan made a comfortable save from a free-kick.

Mbappe headed wide from Dembele’s corner and Orlando Gill made a solid punch from Olise’s corner delivery as France continued to be frustrated.

After the break, Miguel Almiron’s corner was punched away by Maignan before France enjoyed a succession of chances.

Dembele fired into the side of goal from a quickly-taken corner and Gill made a great save to tip Kone’s strike over the bar.

France were awarded the penalty following a VAR check after