Paraguay Goalkeeper Orlando Gill Defends Aggressive Play After World Cup Exit to France

Paraguay was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after a 1-0 loss to France in the round of 16, following a tense match decided by a penalty kick. The game ended with controversy surrounding Paraguay's aggressive style and a notable incident involving goalkeeper Orlando Gill, who appeared to throw the ball toward French star Kylian Mbappe after the final whistle. Gill later clarified that he intended to shake Mbappe's hand but was ignored, attributing the tension to Mbappe's emotional state. He also defended Paraguay's physical approach, stating, "France is one of the top contenders. This is football. If they are not used to this style, that's their problem. Paraguay is a tough and physical team."

Paraguay's coach Gustavo Alfaro addressed the decisive penalty, which was awarded after VAR intervention. Initially, Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev allowed play to continue following a fall by France's Dzire Dowa in the box, but reversed his decision after reviewing the video. Alfaro admitted he could not be fully objective but accepted the VAR ruling. Despite the loss, Alfaro praised his team's performance, recalling their upset victory over Germany in the previous round of 32, which had led Paraguay's president Santiago Peña to declare a national holiday. Alfaro expressed mixed emotions, saying, "I leave the World Cup with peace of mind because we truly played well. I am sad because I wanted to go further, and losing is never pleasant. I don't like losing in anything."