Dirty tactics exposed in "absolute disgrace" World Cup clash

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World Cup daily news. We will bring you the latest from around the world as the FIFA World Cup 2026™ finally gets under way (All times AEST).

DIRTY TACTICS

Screen shots from the moments leading into the French penalty show Paraguay payer Gustavo Velázquez deliberately trying to mess with the spot.

Four players are seen surrounding Dembele and some using their studs to scuff up the spot - only for the Frenchman to hand the ball to Mbappe for the kick.

It obviously didn't make a difference, he scored and the spot kick was enough for France to reach their fourth consecutive World Cup quarter-final stage.

But Paraguay's tactics and approach to the match have been widely slammed with many accusing them of cheating.

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart told the BBC: “The Paraguayan players were an absolute disgrace tonight.

“If they were on my team I’d be dragging half of them off the pitch. I would never want to win that way.

“I would never want to play football that way and the referee didn’t help.

“Even Kylian Mbappe, even with him laughing, you can tell inside he wants to do something else.

“If I’m Gill, I don’t care if it’s my own player. I’m ripping the shirt off his back.

“That is not how I want to play the game. Disgusting. I’m so glad he (Mbappe) sat him down and slotted this. Yes Kylian, yes!”

Favourites to go all the way, they were tested today by Paraguay and the heat. It's the first time this tournament they have not scored more than two goals.

Former Germany international Thomas Hitzlsperger said it was a miracle the French side got through with no major injuries and said it was the worst refereeing he had witness all tournament.

“There is other words I would use in German but I don’t have them in English, because I have little to no respect anymore," he said.

“This is not just disgraceful, this is even worse.

“The way Kylian Mbappe and the entire team have controlled themselves, that they didn’t walk off the pitch injured, to me is almost a miracle.

“And the referee is probably the worst I’ve seen this tournament.”

Later in the game, Juan Jose Caceres was bundled over by Mbappe and then lashed out with his foot, catching the Frenchman in the shin with his studs in an incident many likened to David Beckham's infamous kick on Diego Simeone in 1998.

When asked about the Paraguay strategy and dirty tactics after the match, Mbappe said there is no right way to play.

“If we have to get our hands dirty, we’ll get our hands dirty. We have no problem with that.

“They thought we were going to come and play in tuxedos, that we were just going to come and make some nice plays.

“We know how to play dirty football too and we did it today, we won, and even in that, we were better than them.

“It’s their way of playing football. Everyone plays with their strengths. There is no right or wrong way to play football.

“There is only one way and that’s to win.

“They tried to beat us like that, but we beat them like that too.

“Now we move on to the next stage. We need to recover and focus on Morocco.”

France will play Morocco in the quarter-finals.

Allez Les Bleus!

PENALTY?

The referee has gone to the sidelines for a possible penalty "No 8 kick attacking player inside the area, this is a penalty!"

Doue is the man that was brought down - he's only been on a few minutes!

It's France's first of the tournament.

Kylian Mbappe to take the penalty and scoring this will see him back level with Messi for the golden boot.

Banish the memory of the Argentina final 2022?

HE SCORES!!!! It's France's 150th goal at a World Cup. France are ahead, that's Mbappe's seventh of the tournament.

18 days and gone

Another day, another coach steps down after World Cup reflection.

Tunisia have lost two coaches this tournament having sacked Sabri Lamouchi after their first group game and now, his replacement Herve Renard, has stepped down after just 18 days.

Tunisia failed to make it out of their group having lost all three of their matches.

It was a disastrous campaign that was marred in behind the scenes fighting and political pressure from a leadership point of view.

Renard has now represented three different countries at the same number of world Cups with previous stints at Morocco in 2018 and Saudi Arabia in 2022.

“Before leaving, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the FTF for allowing me to participate in the 2026 World Cup, Renard said.

“It was an honour to wear Tunisia’s colours and to live this unforgettable experience.

“I wish this Tunisian team the best for the future.

“I am convinced that it will continue to grow, to thrill an entire nation, and to write brilliant chapters in its history.

“Thank you to everyone who accompanied me throughout this journey.

“I wish you great success in the future. My journey is coming to an end.”

Renard is the ninth manager to step down or be sacked this tournament.

WHERE ARE FRANCE?

Credit to Paraguay, they've held the French to a goalless draw at the half-time stage of this knockout clash.

Paraguay have been disciplined and stood up to this French force.

Be interesting to see what changes come on, it's 38 degrees at the ground.

OH CANDA!

The first of the three co-host nations is out of the tournament after Morocco stormed into the quarter-finals with a 3-0 victory.

It was a physical affair with eight yellow cards shown - which could cause Morocco some issues moving forward - but a second half brace from Azz-Eddine Ounahi and a goal from Soufiane Rahimi in the 98th minute secured a spot in the last 8.

Canada coach Jesse Marsch has some strange comments to make after the match.

"They made a couple more plays than us but cracking up the intensity was not the issue, it's just they had a bit of quality in the final third and we lacked the ability to make a play when we needed to," he says.

"What a privilege our fans have to follow a team like this that goes after the game like this and doesn't play defensive and shows they can be better. I'd rather be us than them. As good as Morocco are, I'd rather be us. I couldn't be happier."