Paraguay don lose 1-0 to France for World Cup round of 16. Na Kylian Mbappe score the only goal from penalty kick. But wetin happen for field wey television no show don become viral.
During cooling break, as players dey go towards bench, Mbappe cross the field trotting and crash into one Paraguay player, make am fall down. The player pikin dem colleagues quickly come confront Mbappe.
France coach talk say: “We know say match go be like this. But today we play well and show say we no be only attacking team. If we need to fight, we no get problem.”
He add: “Them think say we go come wear tuxedo and just play beautiful football, but we know how to play dirty football, fighting football. Today we win and even for that aspect we better pass them.”
He also talk about Paraguay style: “Na their football, their way to play. Everybody dey use their own weapon. There is no good or bad. Only one way to play football: to win. Them try to hold us, but we succeed. We like this too. Now we dey go next round.”
Meanwhile, French media don yarn about Paraguay defensive tactics. Le Monde and Le Figaro call am “trap.” L’Equipe title say “With cold blood.” Le Parisien talk about “unsportsmanlike wall” and criticize Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev for not controlling players.
Le Parisien write: “Under the complacent eye of Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev, unable to control players, they display all their unsportsmanlike arsenal: elbow hits, time wasting, even stop for cramps.”
L’Equipe focus on Paraguay low block and high temperature effect, but also note say “no Paraguay player receive yellow card.” That one true: Paraguay defend well for 70 minutes without any card. Last time Albirroja get such fair play record na against Nigeria for 1998 World Cup, 17 matches ago.
For Paraguay, media dey praise resistance. ABC newspaper talk: “Albirroja fight till last breath, empty themselves for every ball, show character to compete equally for World Cup, but France impose their hierarchy to cut Paraguayan dream.”
Hoy newspaper emphasize off-pitch matters: “Though Paraguay no play dirty, soldiers of Gustavo Alfaro make French feel South American rigor and Guaraní claws.”
FIFA don sanction France because three players collect yellow card: Bradley Barcola, Manu Koné, and Michael Olise. Now France go face Morocco for quarter-final on July 9 at Gillette Stadium, Boston.
