France needed one moment of quality to move on, and it came from the player it usually comes from. Kylian Mbappé scored from the penalty spot to beat Paraguay 1-0 in the World Cup Round of 16 on Saturday, ESPN reported, sending the tournament favorites into the last eight.
One goal decides a tight game
The match was a controlled French performance rather than a thrilling one. France dominated possession and territory, but Paraguay defended in numbers and made the game difficult to break down. The decisive moment arrived in the second half, when France won a penalty and Mbappé stepped up to convert it, according to ESPN. The match was played in Philadelphia.
Paraguay, which had upset Germany on penalties to reach this stage, struggled to create clear chances against a French defense that has looked solid throughout the tournament. Once behind, the South Americans pushed forward but could not find an equalizer.
A quarterfinal against Morocco
The win sets up one of the more compelling quarterfinals of the tournament. France will face Morocco, which beat co-hosts Canada 3-0 earlier on Saturday to become the first team into the last eight. Morocco reached the semifinals four years ago, the deepest run ever by an African nation at a World Cup, and arrives with belief that it can trouble any opponent.
For France, the path continues to run through its captain and talisman. Mbappé's goal was another reminder that even on a quiet team night, he can settle a knockout match by himself.
What's next
France and Morocco are set to meet in the quarterfinal in Boston in the coming days. It is a matchup of a pre-tournament favorite against the competition's most accomplished recent underdog, and for France it represents a clear step up from the resistance Paraguay offered.
The Round of 16 rolls on, but France has done what favorites are supposed to do: win the close ones and stay alive.
