Kylian Mbappe’s penalty lifts France past Paraguay into quarterfinals

PHILADELPHIA: Kylian Mbappe converted from the spot for his ‌19th World Cup goal and seventh of this tournament as France outlasted Paraguay to reach the quarterfinals with a 1-0 victory on Saturday in a steamy round of 16 encounter.
With ​the penalty, earned by substitute Desire Doue’s slaloming run into the area, Mbappe scored in the 70th minute to pull even with Argentina’s Lionel Messi atop the 2026 Golden Boot leaderboard and move within one of the 39-year-old for the all-time World Cup goals lead.
It was all Les Bleus needed against a resilient but limited Albirroja side, who defended admirably in sweltering conditions with temperatures nearing 100 Fahrenheit while offering little going forward.
France ‌advance to ‌meet Morocco next Thursday in Foxborough, Mass., in ​a rematch ‌of ⁠the ​2022 semifinal ⁠that ended in a 2-0 French victory.
Paraguay shocked Germany on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the round of 32 on Monday, a result that inspired president Santiago Pena to declare Tuesday a national holiday.
But the Albirroja still exited a round shy of their all-time best quarterfinal finish in 2010, which doubled as their last World Cup finals appearance.
The South Americans frustrated ⁠the two-time World Champions throughout the first half and well ‌into the second, aided in part by ‌the card-shy approach of Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev.

​When he did reach for ‌his pocket, it was puzzling for three French offenders even though Paraguay ‌led 12-9 in fouls.
But Paraguay had no solution for the injection of energy Doue brought after Didier Deschamps inserted him in the 61st minute for Bradley Barcola.
Moments after Tantashev waved off appeals for a foul on Mbappe just outside the box, ‌Doue’s excellent incisive