WE started with 48 teams and 33 of them have been sent packing from the World Cup.
Morocco have just become the first team to book their place in the last eight of the World Cup – now it’s over to Paraguay and France.
France boss Didier Deschamps makes one change from the 3-0 win against Sweden in the last 32.
Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni is only named on the bench after reportedly picking up an injury in training as AS Roma’s Manu Kone replaces him in the midfield today.
France XI: Maignan, Digne, Saliba, Upamecano, Kounde, Rabiot, Kone, Barcola, Olise, Dembele, Mbappe.
Head coach Gustavo Alfaro makes three changes to the Paraguay starting line-up from their shootout victory against Germany.
Sunderland’s Omar Alderete, Gustavo Velazquez and Brighton’s Diego Gomez are picked ahead of Damian Bobadilla, Gabriel Avalos and Jose Canale in the last-16 tie.
Paraguay XI: Gill, Alderte, Gustavo Gomez, Velazquez, Alonso, Caceres, Almiron, Galarza, Cubas, Diego Gomez, Enciso.
Paraguay came into this tournament 41st in the Fifa world rankings and will face an almighty uphill battle against France tonight.
But the South American side came through when no one expected them to against Germany and even became the first side to beat the Germans in a World Cup penalty shootout.
Michael Olise’s five assists for France at this year’s World Cup are the most by a player in a single edition since Thomas Hassler for Germany in 1994, while it’s already the joint-most in open play in one tournament on record (since 1966), along with Germany’s Pierre Littbarski (1982) and Brazil’s Pele (1970).
Michael Olise is not your typical footballer.
Born and raised in England, he is setting this World Cup alight with France.
The Bayern Munich forward, via Reading and Crystal Palace, usually shuns the spotlight, loves chess, barely celebrates goals and avoids interviews – and does not have a deal with any sportswear or boot companies.
After a season with 25 goals and 28 assists for the Bundesliga champions, the 24-year-old is now seen as one of the world’s best players.
Going into the last-16 tie with Paraguay, Olise has become the first player to assist five goals at one World Cup since Germany’s Thomas Hassler in 1994.
These two have history at the World Cup. They first met at the 1958 tournament, when Paraguay led 3-2 before France roared back to win 7-3, and again in the Round of 16 in 1998, when eventual champions France needed a 114th-minute golden goal from Laurent Blanc to get past a stubborn Paraguay. The pattern is familiar: Paraguay make France work, but France find a way through.
ANALYSIS:
Paraguay pulled off the shock of the tournament, knocking Germany out on penalties, and their reward is the hardest possible draw in France. Paraguay did it the only way they can: defending deep, riding their luck and taking their moment, while Germany created chance after chance and could not finish. Now they meet a France side that is better than Germany in the exact area that decides these games, putting chances away.
That is the whole tie in a sentence. Paraguay will sit in, frustrate and hope to nick a goal on the counter or a set piece, exactly as they did against Germany. They will probably get a look or two. The questions are whether they can take them, and whether they can grab the kind of early goal that made the Germany game so uncomfortable, because France are ruthless and will not spurn openings the way the Germans did.
Paraguay will do what they do best, defending deep in a compact block, protecting goalkeeper Orlando Gill and looking to spring Julio Enciso on the break or threaten from a set piece. The Germany result showed the blueprint can work, but it also required Paraguay to take a rare chance and defend on the edge for long stretches. Against France they will have to be even more disciplined and even more clinical.
France will control the ball and probe for the openings, using Kylian Mbappe’s movement to stretch the Paraguay line and the creativity of Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise to unlock it. The knock on France is a slow first half, but the quality eventually tells, and crucially they finish the chances that Germany wasted against this Paraguay block. Their patience and their ruthlessness are the difference.
Here is the thing that separates this from the Germany game: France are far better at putting the ball in the net. Paraguay will get one, two, maybe three half-chances, and the question is whether they can take any of them, or grab the opener that unsettled Germany. France making their own chances count and pulling clear is the expectation. This has the makings of a comfortable France win.
France’s clearest route to breaking Paraguay down is Kylian Mbappe running at a defense that wants to sit deep. If Paraguay drop off and invite pressure, Mbappe will find the space behind eventually, and unlike Germany’s forwards, he tends to finish. How long Paraguay can keep him quiet may decide how comfortable this gets.
PREDICTIONS:
Sadiq’s Prediction: France head into the Round of 16 as overwhelming favourites after demonstrating why they are among the tournament’s strongest contenders. Didier Deschamps’ side possess the quality, patience and clinical finishing that Germany lacked against Paraguay, making them well-equipped to break down a stubborn defensive block.
Paraguay are expected to defend deep with a compact shape in front of goalkeeper Orlando Gill while looking to release Julio Enciso on quick counter-attacks. However, France’s attacking trio of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise should eventually stretch Paraguay’s defensive lines and create enough chances to secure victory.
My Prediction: France 4-1 Paraguay
Peter’s Prediction: If Paraguay can survive France’s early pressure and reproduce the resilience they showed against Germany, another upset cannot be ruled out.
Their disciplined low block, organised defending and willingness to absorb sustained pressure make them difficult opponents in knockout football. Orlando Gill has already shown his ability under pressure, while Enciso’s pace offers Paraguay a genuine outlet whenever France overcommit bodies forward.
France would still dominate possession and create the better chances through Mbappé, Dembélé and Olise, but if Paraguay can remain compact, capitalise on a counter-attack or a set-piece, and force the match beyond 90 and 120 minutes, the momentum could shift.
Having already eliminated Germany in a penalty shootout, Paraguay would head into another shootout with growing belief and confidence.
My Prediction: France 1-1 Paraguay (Paraguay win 5-4 on penalties).
Gbenga’s Prediction: Paraguay have already produced the shock of the tournament by eliminating Germany on penalties, proving they can frustrate elite opponents with disciplined defending and opportunistic football.
However, France represent a different challenge. Les Bleus are far more clinical in front of goal and rarely waste clear opportunities. While Paraguay could threaten through Enciso or from set-pieces, France’s sustained possession and attacking quality should gradually wear down their resistance.
Mbappé’s pace against a retreating defence, combined with Dembélé’s creativity and Olise’s delivery, could overwhelm Paraguay late in the match despite another spirited defensive effort.
My Prediction: France 3-0 Paraguay
Gloria’s Prediction: This could develop into a far tighter contest than many expect if Paraguay successfully repeat the defensive blueprint that frustrated Germany.
The South Americans will likely concede possession, defend with numbers behind the ball and attempt to slow the tempo before looking for isolated counter-attacking opportunities through Julio Enciso. France have occasionally started matches slowly, which could keep Paraguay in the contest for long periods.
Nevertheless, France’s superior finishing should ultimately prove decisive. Mbappé only needs one clear opportunity to change a game, and France’s patience in possession gives them the edge in what may become a tense tactical battle.
My Prediction: France 3-1 Paraguay
Previous Match Recap
Morocco’s Atlas Lions Roar Into World Cup Quarter-Finals After Win Over Canada
Canada became the first co-host to exit the 2026 World Cup as they were well beaten by Morocco in Houston.
The Moroccans, having failed to impress in a bad-tempered first half, took the lead five minutes after the interval through Azzedine Ounahi.
Ounahi swept home Achraf Hakimi’s cut-back free kick from inside the D as the Canadian defence failed to close him down.
The Girona midfielder scored his second by converting a breakaway with eight minutes remaining to seal victory.
And an ultimately comfortable win was topped off in stoppage time as Soufiane Rahimi slid his shot under keeper Maxime Crepeau.
It was tough on Canada, who had started by far the stronger team in Texas and should have led early on.
“There was one team on the pitch,” Canada boss Jesse Marsch said of his side’s start to the game.
“We were better than the number seven team in the world today.”
But Morocco progress, as they move one win away from equalling their historic run to the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup.
Canada pressed the Moroccans relentlessly from the start, and both Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi were denied one on one by Morocco keeper Bono inside the opening 11 minutes.
The African side were below par and clearly frustrated for long periods as eight yellow cards were shown by English referee Michael Oliver.
But Morocco ultimately came through and were close to a third when Rahimi looped a header off the crossbar – before the striker finally got his goal with the last touch of the match.
It means Canada’s most successful men’s World Cup campaign comes to an end – a tournament in which they earned their first point, win, group stage progression and knock-out victory.
“We want to thank you for making us dream,” one Canadian journalist said to Marsch in the post-match news conference.
“Before, we never believed we’d ever make it this far. So we just want to say thank you.”
After their incredible run in Qatar from four years ago and stunning shoot-out win over Netherlands in the round of 32, Morocco started this match in the unfamiliar role as favourites.
That, and 24 hours less recovery time than the Canadians from their previous match, perhaps explains why they started the game like strangers with no rhythm or passing fluency.
Their obvious frustration boiled over in the 40th minute when Morocco captain Hakimi shoved over Canada defender Richie Laryea as he chased a long ball. Laryea’s reaction meant both men were booked.
But Paris St-Germain full back Hakimi and co withstood the Canada onslaught with what remains one of the World Cup’s staunchest defences.
While Canada had 30 touches in the Moroccan box, they were limited to only three shots on target – with just one coming after the 11th minute.
Morocco have now beaten Canada in back to back World Cups – having defeated them in the 2022 group stage – and are unbeaten in five meetings.
Morocco will play Paraguay or France – who face off later on Saturday in the quarterfinals.
The last eight game will kick-off at 21.00 BST on Thursday, 9 July in Boston.