Mbappe keeps cool as France survive furnace against Paraguay

PHILADELPHIA, July 4 : Kylian Mbappe converted a second-half penalty as France sweated through a suffocating Philadelphia furnace and wrestled their way out of a brutal scrap with Paraguay to snatch a 1-0 win on Saturday, setting up a World Cup quarter-final against Morocco.

Mbappe's 19th World Cup goal in as many appearances ensured there would be no repeat of Paraguay's shock elimination of four-time champions Germany — or Cape Verde's near-miracle against Argentina the previous day — as France survived a contest their opponents repeatedly dragged into murky waters.

"We knew what kind of match we were going to have. If we have to get our hands dirty, we can do that. We can play ugly football. They thought we would turn up in tuxedos, but we were there," said Mbappe.

"Even at that game, we were better than them. That's their football — there is no right or wrong way to play the game. They tried to get at us that way, but we won."

Despite Aurelien Tchouameni's last-gasp withdrawal with a muscle injury, France looked prepared for the scrap, dominating the ball before turning frustration into urgency after the break to set up a repeat of their semi-final against Morocco four years ago.

Paraguay had hoped to avenge their 1998 last-16 defeat by eventual champions France, settled by Laurent Blanc's golden goal, but their minimalist approach was again left unrewarded.

France made one change from the side who beat Sweden 3-0, with Manu Kone replacing the injured Tchouameni alongside Adrien Rabiot in midfield, while Paraguay set up in a defensive 5-4-1.

With temperatures reaching 39 degrees Celsius (102.2°F), France found clear openings hard to come by against a Paraguay side who defended ruggedly.

Neither side managed a shot on target