The president of Paraguay, Santiago Pena, declared a national holiday after his team knocked Germany out of the World Cup. Now the South Americans face France, the tournament’s most feared attack, in the last-16 tonight.
Paraguay reached this stage by holding their nerve in a penalty shootout against Germany, after a 1-1 draw in which Julio Enciso scored and Kai Havertz equalised. The win prompted Pena to grant the country a day off. The Paraguayans will need every bit of that resilience against a France side that demolished Sweden 2-0 in the round of 32, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice.
“Paraguay face France in World Cup last-16 after national holiday for beating Germany, with card-happy referee Ilgiz Tantashev in charge.”
Didier Deschamps’s team have been described as world champions in waiting, the best left in the tournament. The French coach told his players to “express themselves” and do what “comes with instinct”, referencing the trio of Mbappe, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele. That attacking line – which also includes Bradley Barcola – starts tonight, while Aurelien Tchouameni is ruled out with a thigh injury, replaced by Manu Kone.
Paraguay will likely set up in a 5-4-1 formation, with Diego Gomez back from suspension and Omar Alderete recovered from a knee injury. The Sunderland defender’s return is a significant boost.
The man in the middle is referee Ilgiz Tantashev, an Uzbek official making his World Cup debut. He has taken charge of 308 matches in his career, issuing 1,257 yellow cards and 80 reds. At this tournament he has already officiated two contrasting games: Morocco’s tight 1-0 win over Scotland and the dramatic 3-3 draw between Austria and Algeria. His willingness to show cards will test both sides’ discipline.
France’s lineup reads: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Kone, Rabiot; Olise, Dembele, Barcola, Mbappe. Paraguay’s XI: Gill; Caceres, Velazquez, G Gomez, Alderete; Alonso, Cubas, D Gomez, Galarza, Almiron; Enciso.
The stage is set for a clash between a nation on a high and a side that looks destined for the final. Can Paraguay summon another shock, or will Mbappe and his orchestra continue their march?