by Craig Laycock
Original article:
Paraguay 0 - 1 France
Mbappe (pen 70')
France were almost frustrated by a Paraguay side that started as resilient and ended as bordering on disgraceful, before Kylian Mbappe broke the deadlock with a deserved penalty.
France failed to get a shot on target in a first half that was characterised by an excellent defensive performance from Paraguay, and for large portions of the game it looked like this Paraguay side might be able to take France the distance and try their luck at a shoot out.
But despite all of Paraguay’s defensive prowess, they started to undermine the appreciation being doled out to them with a succession of fouls, wind-ups and other techniques from the school of dark arts to firmly land their performance in the category of absolute shithousery.
Nowhere was this more characterised than in the succession of Paraguay players throwing themselves to the floor to con the referee, or in Miguel Alrmiron’s stealthy deletion of the vanishing spray line at a free kick.
What’s even more remarkable is that the referee was clearly overwhelmed by the occasion, and the techniques pulled the wool over his eyes magnificently - to the extent that not a single Paraguay player was even yellow carded (while three French players were). Thomas Hitzlsperger, working for the BBC, was blunt in saying it was “probably the worst referee performance” at the tournament.
As a performance of yellow card escape artistry, Paraguay were right up there. Caceres alone for Paraguay could have had several red cards doled out to him over the 90.
And when Mbappe stepped up to take a penalty after his compatriot was felled in the box, Paraguay were at their tricks again, trying to mash the penalty spot with their studs to create an uneven surface.
Mbappe was unfazed, of course, and slotted his penalty home with a chuckle.
France almost fell into the trap a couple of times in this match of falling over to try and get Paraguay players booked or sent off as retribution. But ultimately common sense and cool heads prevailed, and France sweated into the Quarter Finals at the expense of a Paraguay side that was heralded early in the game but now, for many, will not be missed.
Another test passed for France, this one of a different type. Next up they will face Morocco in the Quarter Finals. Tasty.
5 min read
Paraguay 0 - 1 France
Mbappe (pen 70')
France were almost frustrated by a Paraguay side that started as resilient and ended as bordering on disgraceful, before Kylian Mbappe broke the deadlock with a deserved penalty.
France failed to get a shot on target in a first half that was characterised by an excellent defensive performance from Paraguay, and for large portions of the game it looked like this Paraguay side might be able to take France the distance and try their luck at a shoot out.
But despite all of Paraguay’s defensive prowess, they started to undermine the appreciation being doled out to them with a succession of fouls, wind-ups and other techniques from the school of dark arts to firmly land their performance in the category of absolute shithousery.
Nowhere was this more characterised than in the succession of Paraguay players throwing themselves to the floor to con the referee, or in Miguel Alrmiron’s stealthy deletion of the vanishing spray line at a free kick.
What’s even more remarkable is that the referee was clearly overwhelmed by the occasion, and the techniques pulled the wool over his eyes magnificently - to the extent that not a single Paraguay player was even yellow carded (while three French players were). Thomas Hitzlsperger, working for the BBC, was blunt in saying it was “probably the worst referee performance” at the tournament.
As a performance of yellow card escape artistry, Paraguay were right up there. Caceres alone for Paraguay could have had several red cards doled out to him over the 90.
And when Mbappe stepped up to take a penalty after his compatriot was felled in the box, Paraguay were at their tricks again, trying to mash the penalty spot with their studs to create an uneven surface.
Mbappe was unfazed, of course, and slotted his penalty home with a chuckle.
France almost fell into the trap a couple of times in this match of falling over to try and get Paraguay players booked or sent off as retribution. But ultimately common sense and cool heads prevailed, and France sweated into the Quarter Finals at the expense of a Paraguay side that was heralded early in the game but now, for many, will not be missed.
Another test passed for France, this one of a different type. Next up they will face Morocco in the Quarter Finals. Tasty.
Last 16: French squeeze past troubling Paraguay
Shithouse Central.
Original article:
Paraguay 0 - 1 France
Mbappe (pen 70')
France were almost frustrated by a Paraguay side that started as resilient and ended as bordering on disgraceful, before Kylian Mbappe broke the deadlock with a deserved penalty.
France failed to get a shot on target in a first half that was characterised by an excellent defensive performance from Paraguay, and for large portions of the game it looked like this Paraguay side might be able to take France the distance and try their luck at a shoot out.
But despite all of Paraguay’s defensive prowess, they started to undermine the appreciation being doled out to them with a succession of fouls, wind-ups and other techniques from the school of dark arts to firmly land their performance in the category of absolute shithousery.
Nowhere was this more characterised than in the succession of Paraguay players throwing themselves to the floor to con the referee, or in Miguel Alrmiron’s stealthy deletion of the vanishing spray line at a free kick.
What’s even more remarkable is that the referee was clearly overwhelmed by the occasion, and the techniques pulled the wool over his eyes magnificently - to the extent that not a single Paraguay player was even yellow carded (while three French players were). Thomas Hitzlsperger, working for the BBC, was blunt in saying it was “probably the worst referee performance” at the tournament.
As a performance of yellow card escape artistry, Paraguay were right up there. Caceres alone for Paraguay could have had several red cards doled out to him over the 90.
And when Mbappe stepped up to take a penalty after his compatriot was felled in the box, Paraguay were at their tricks again, trying to mash the penalty spot with their studs to create an uneven surface.
Mbappe was unfazed, of course, and slotted his penalty home with a chuckle.
France almost fell into the trap a couple of times in this match of falling over to try and get Paraguay players booked or sent off as retribution. But ultimately common sense and cool heads prevailed, and France sweated into the Quarter Finals at the expense of a Paraguay side that was heralded early in the game but now, for many, will not be missed.
Another test passed for France, this one of a different type. Next up they will face Morocco in the Quarter Finals. Tasty.
5 min read
Last 16: French squeeze past troubling Paraguay
Shithouse Central.
Paraguay 0 - 1 France
Mbappe (pen 70')
France were almost frustrated by a Paraguay side that started as resilient and ended as bordering on disgraceful, before Kylian Mbappe broke the deadlock with a deserved penalty.
France failed to get a shot on target in a first half that was characterised by an excellent defensive performance from Paraguay, and for large portions of the game it looked like this Paraguay side might be able to take France the distance and try their luck at a shoot out.
But despite all of Paraguay’s defensive prowess, they started to undermine the appreciation being doled out to them with a succession of fouls, wind-ups and other techniques from the school of dark arts to firmly land their performance in the category of absolute shithousery.
Nowhere was this more characterised than in the succession of Paraguay players throwing themselves to the floor to con the referee, or in Miguel Alrmiron’s stealthy deletion of the vanishing spray line at a free kick.
What’s even more remarkable is that the referee was clearly overwhelmed by the occasion, and the techniques pulled the wool over his eyes magnificently - to the extent that not a single Paraguay player was even yellow carded (while three French players were). Thomas Hitzlsperger, working for the BBC, was blunt in saying it was “probably the worst referee performance” at the tournament.
As a performance of yellow card escape artistry, Paraguay were right up there. Caceres alone for Paraguay could have had several red cards doled out to him over the 90.
And when Mbappe stepped up to take a penalty after his compatriot was felled in the box, Paraguay were at their tricks again, trying to mash the penalty spot with their studs to create an uneven surface.
Mbappe was unfazed, of course, and slotted his penalty home with a chuckle.
France almost fell into the trap a couple of times in this match of falling over to try and get Paraguay players booked or sent off as retribution. But ultimately common sense and cool heads prevailed, and France sweated into the Quarter Finals at the expense of a Paraguay side that was heralded early in the game but now, for many, will not be missed.
Another test passed for France, this one of a different type. Next up they will face Morocco in the Quarter Finals. Tasty.
5 min read