Paraguay vs France: World Cup Round of 16 Clash

Paraguay face France at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia in a World Cup Round of 16 tie that pits underdogs against one of the tournament’s form sides. Paraguay advanced from Group D with 4 points and a -2 goal difference, but their group form string “WDWL” is only four matches long, underlining an inconsistent campaign. France, by contrast, topped Group I with 9 points, a +8 goal difference and a flawless “WWWW” record, scoring 10 and conceding just 2 in the group stage.

Season stats reinforce the gap. Paraguay have 4 goals for and 5 against across four World Cup fixtures, winning two and drawing one, but they have already suffered a heavy 4-1 away defeat. France have won all four of their matches, hitting 13 goals and conceding only 2, with a 3-0 home win and 1-4 away victory among their biggest results.

Head-to-Head History

Head-to-head history is brutal for Paraguay: in their last meeting, France 5-0 Paraguay in Rennes in 2017. With Kylian Mbappé (6 goals, 2 assists) and Ousmane Dembélé (4 goals, 2 assists) in outstanding form, all indicators point towards France progressing from this knockout clash.