Didier Deschamps admitted France were drawn into an uncomfortable and difficult battle against Paraguay, but praised his side for maintaining discipline in a match he believes could be useful later in the tournament.
«It’s a great pleasure to get to the quarter-finals because it was a tough match,» the French coach said after Kylian Mbappe’s penalty sealed a 1-0 victory in Philadelphia. «We have played some easier games so far, so it was good for us to face something more complicated. We should have scored a second goal because that would have made things easier, but I am happy with the end result and I think this will help us.»
France had to pull together against a Paraguay side that defended deep, broke up the play and turned the match into a stop-start battle. Deschamps felt that his players had not always moved the ball quickly enough against a low block, especially in the hot conditions, but acknowledged that such games required a different kind of patience.
“We wanted to play football, but the opponent only defended,” he said. «When a team plays with a low block, it needs more effort and more intensity from you. Despite the heat, we should have played faster, especially in the transition phase. It is easier to play when you defend deep than when you have to carry the ball, dribble and create in these conditions.»
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The French coach was also pleased with the way his players handled the tension of a match full of frequent fouls, repeated stoppages and simmering irritation on both benches. France collected three yellow cards – Kouadio Koné, Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola – and Deschamps said he had warned his players at half-time not to be drawn into an emotional fight.
“We were in the lead and I told them if we played their game we wouldn’t win,” he said. «We already had three yellow cards, so I told them – no gestures, no reactions. There were some technical errors, some actions, some words from the other bench that I could have done without, but we tried to stay calm. If the bench is calm, it helps the players. If the bench is angry, that is also communicated to them.»
Deschamps suggested France had learned from watching other sides lose control of the knockout matches, pointing to Germany’s elimination earlier in the tournament. “I’m proud because the whole team stayed calm,” he said. «If we had reacted to the provocation, things could have gone wrong. Germany reacted to it and they are out. I am happy with the behavior of my team.»
He also defended Mbappe’s contribution after the winning penalty, railing against what he sees as a distorted image of his captain among the public. “He hasn’t changed as a person,” Deschamps said. «Kylian has an image for you that is far from reality. From day one I have said that he has the spirit, that he makes athletic efforts and when he speaks, he speaks for the whole team. Of course he is in the spotlight because of what he does on the field, but it is collective.»
France will now face Morocco in the quarter-finals, reuniting with the team that defeated them in the semi-finals in Qatar. Deschamps described the next opponent as one of the strongest of the tournament, even though his focus for now was on recovery after an exhausting afternoon in the Philadelphia heat.
“The match wasn’t spectacular to watch, but we have great attacking potential,” he said. «Morocco is one of the best teams. We met them in Qatar and since then we have seen them again. Now we have 48 hours to recover and enjoy this victory. From the third day we will focus on them.»
Published on July 5, 2026
