Mbappé Penalty and Paraguay Gamesmanship Define France's Ugly Quarterfinal Advance
France survived 90 minutes of elbows, scuffed penalty spots, and extreme Philadelphia heat to beat Paraguay 1-0 on a 70th-minute Mbappé penalty, with broadcasters calling Paraguay's conduct 'a disgrace' after zero bookings. The goal was Mbappé's 19th career World Cup strike, leaving him one short of Messi's all-time record and level with him in the 2026 Golden Boot race. France now faces Morocco in Boston on July 9 in a rematch of the 2022 semifinal, with Mbappé's record chase adding a defining subplot to the quarterfinal.