France vs Paraguay: It's extremely difficult to stop Mbappe and Les Bleus

France is proving its status as one of the strongest title contenders at the 2026 World Cup. Coach Didier Deschamps' squad has shown absolute dominance, winning all four matches in the tournament so far, scoring 13 goals while conceding only 2. Their commanding 3-0 victory over Sweden in the Round of 32 highlighted the superb form of Mbappe and his teammates.

Paraguay has also demonstrated their ability to spring surprises at this year's tournament. Their penalty shootout win over the German "armored vehicle" in the knockout stage has made the big teams wary of this South American side.

For this match, France is heavily favored over Paraguay. Les Bleus currently sit second in the FIFA rankings and boast a star-studded squad valued as the most expensive at the 2026 World Cup. In contrast, Paraguay ranks 56th in the world, with a relatively modest squad value.

France boasts the tournament's most formidable attack, featuring Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola, Michael Olise, and Kylian Mbappe. These attacking players are in exceptional form. The trio of Olise, Mbappe, and Dembele offers Coach Deschamps numerous attacking options.

Mbappe is the driving force for France, with 6 goals and 2 assists in four matches at the 2026 World Cup. The 27-year-old superstar is closing in on Lionel Messi in the race for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot, as well as the broader chase for the all-time World Cup scoring record.

Mbappe currently trails Messi by just one goal, after Messi recently scored to help Argentina defeat Cape Verde. Meanwhile, in the all-time World Cup scoring list, the French forward needs only two more goals to match Messi's record. What makes Mbappe so fearsome is that his supporting cast are also world-class and currently in explosive form.

Paraguay's journey at the 2026 World Cup has been eventful. The South American side secured a knockout spot as one of the best third-placed teams, but their performance against Germany significantly changed perceptions of Coach Diego Gomez's squad. They overcame the four-time world champion European side with pragmatic, hard-hitting football. Paraguay will be more confident after that match and sees another solid defensive display as the most realistic path to a second consecutive upset.

The challenge posed by France is considered to be of a higher level. Les Bleus are one of the most convincing teams in the tournament so far. Coach Didier Deschamps' side remains undefeated with four wins from the start. They boast one of the most fearsome attacks, having scored 13 goals while conceding only 2.

In contrast, Paraguay's defense has conceded 5 goals in four matches. This statistic suggests that the Roosters are likely to dominate possession, while Paraguay will primarily rely on counter-attacks in this match.

Physical conditioning is a key factor in this match. While France had a relatively easy game against Sweden, Paraguay's players were severely drained after a grueling 120-minute battle under intense pressure from Germany.

The match between Paraguay and France will take place at 4:00 AM on July 5. Will the class difference help France advance, or will there be another shock at this World Cup?

Expected starting lineups for both teams
France: Maignan, Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, Digne, Rabiot, Tchouameni, Dembele, Olise, Barcola, Mbappe.
Paraguay: Gill, Alonso, Canale, G. Gomez, Velazquez, Caceres, Galarza, Cubas, D. Gomez, Enciso, Almiron.

2026 World Cup Round of 16 schedule
July 5
Canada vs Morocco: 0:00 AM
Paraguay vs France: 4:00 AM