Mbappe Refuses Paraguayan Goalkeeper's Handshake After Tough World Cup Win

France dominated their first four World Cup matches, scoring 13 goals, but faced a tough challenge against Paraguay in the round of 16 on Saturday. The match ended 1-0 in favor of France, with substitute Randal Kolo Muani winning a penalty that Kylian Mbappe converted in the 70th minute. This victory sets France up to face Morocco in the quarterfinals on Thursday. Historically, France has beaten Paraguay twice in World Cups, including a narrow win in 1998 after extra time.

Mbappe, who now has seven goals in the tournament, equaled Lionel Messi's tally and trails the Argentine legend by one goal in all-time World Cup scoring. The French star expressed frustration with Paraguay's physical and aggressive style, which disrupted France's usual dominance. After the match, Mbappe refused to shake hands with Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Silva, who responded by throwing the ball at Mbappe. Silva said Mbappe did not acknowledge him, likely due to frustration, and defended Paraguay's tough play as part of their strategy.

Mbappe admitted that both teams knew how to play aggressively, stating, "They tried to drag us into that, but we also know how to get our hands dirty. They thought we would only play beautifully, but we showed we can win without playing pretty football." Substitute Randal Kolo Muani described the game as intense and aggressive, acknowledging Paraguay's provocations but emphasizing France's efficiency in scoring.

Coach Didier Deschamps expressed concern about Mbappe's safety, noting that Paraguay targeted him heavily. Deschamps criticized the rough tactics, calling the match difficult and not the kind of football that attracts fans, but acknowledged Paraguay's strong defense.