Paraguay's World Cup dream dies hard as gritty underdogs ruffle France's feathers

July 5 : Paraguay's remarkable World Cup journey came to a grinding halt against France, but not before the South American underdogs proved that good old-fashioned grit and a few questionable tactics can still rattle football's elite.

The tournament outsiders, making their first World Cup appearance since 2010, bowed out in the last 16 following a narrow defeat in Philadelphia.

But their campaign will be remembered as much for their defensive discipline as their mastery of football's darker arts.

After scraping through to the knockout stage as a third-placed team, Paraguay delivered one of the competition's biggest shocks by eliminating Germany in a penalty shootout, showcasing nerves of steel when it mattered most.

Their success was built on defensive organisation that frustrated technically superior opponents, with the team content to cede possession and finish with the lowest average share of the ball during the tournament.

Following a humbling loss to co-hosts United States, Paraguay's structured back line, disciplined midfield and outstanding goalkeeper Orlando Gill proved that sometimes the best defence really is a good defence.

Rather than attempting to match stronger teams in an open game, they embraced a compact, hard-working identity that made them incredibly difficult to beat.

Against France, Paraguay stuck to their tried-and-tested formula, adopting a cautious approach designed to frustrate one of the tournament favourites.

For over an hour, their game plan worked to perfection as they limited clear-cut chances despite France controlling over 75 per cent of possession, until Kylian Mbappe's VAR-awarded penalty sealed their fate.

PARAGUAY'S DARK ARTS

But Paraguay's performance was equally defined by their use of