Dugout Discussion
4 July 2026 73 comments
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A sweltering Philadelphia Stadium is the venue for the second Round of 16 fixture: France v Paraguay.

Kick-off is at 22:00 BST.

According to the bookies, there was no nation with a better chance of making it through their last-16 tie than Didier Deschamps’ side.

Paraguay, of course, upset the odds when making it past Germany in the Round of 32.

TEAM NEWS

There’s just one change for Les Bleus from the 3-0 win against Sweden.

Aurelien Tchouameni ($6.5m) is only fit enough for bench duty, so Manu Kone ($6.1m) replaces him in the engine room.

Paraguay head coach Gustavo Alfaro makes three alterations.

Omar Alderete ($4.1m), Gustavo Velazquez ($3.8m) and Diego Gomez ($6.8m) come in for Damian Bobadilla ($5.5m), Gabriel Avalos ($4.9m) and Jose Canale ($3.6m).

LINE-UPS

France XI: Maignan, Digne, Saliba, Upamecano, Kounde, Rabiot, Kone, Barcola, Olise, Dembele, Mbappe.

Subs: Samba, Gusto, Tchouameni, Thuram, Kante, Konate, Zaire-Emery, Theo Hernandez, Doue, Lucas Hernandez, Mateta, Risser, Cherki, Akliouche, Lacroix.

Paraguay XI: Gill, Alderete, Gustavo Gomez, Velazquez, Alonso, Caceres, Almiron, Galarza, Cubas, Diego Gomez, Enciso.

Subs: Fernandez, Balbuena, Sosa, Sanabria, Mauricio, Canale, Bobadilla, Romero, Arce, Ojeda, Avalos, Olveira, Caballero, Pitta, Maidana.

73 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. NZREDS
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    French bench is ridiculous- could start two first teams

  2. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    Now we ll get to know if paraguay is really a great defensive team or Germany is just so poor.

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 22 days ago

      So far france struggling more than Germany did

  3. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    38c....that is bloody hot, will France be able to cope with the heat?

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 22 days ago

      Hottest game ever in wc history!

      1. NZREDS
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 22 days ago

        Just heard that on the comms, wowza

      2. Ausman
        • 3 Years
        1 month, 22 days ago

        That’s not correct. Mexico and Ireland played a game in Orlando where the temperature reached 41 degrees when the WC was last played in the USA

        1. Ausman
          • 3 Years
          1 month, 22 days ago

          Correction. It was 43 degrees, not 41. The game kicked off at Midday (don’t know who’s bright idea that was) and Ireland won 1-0

          1. GreennRed
            • 14 Years
            1 month, 21 days ago

            Mexico won 2-1. Aldo had a row with the official who delayed his substitution.His goal was enough to get us out of the group. The Dutch sent us home in the next game.

        2. Travel Notes
          • 4 Years
          1 month, 21 days ago

          I was in Orlando that day.

          1. -GK22-
            • 14 Years
            1 month, 21 days ago

            I met the squad on the back to the future ride at universal studios around that time. Photos them all

  4. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    7mins in and it just feels and looks inevitable

  5. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    French losing their cool

    1. NZREDS
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 22 days ago

      Little scrap was a bit of fun

  6. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    0-0.

    Looking rough for France at the moment

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 22 days ago

      At half time.

    2. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 22 days ago

      Germany looked better.

  7. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    French quadruple not looking good now except kounde maybe

    1. Ausman
      • 3 Years
      1 month, 22 days ago

      I went for the French quad as well

  8. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    Paraguay vs cape verde should have been the final!

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 22 days ago

      Nothing wrong with Spain vs England do!

  9. SM001
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    This ref is having mare

  10. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    Penalty for France.

  11. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    What an ugly win this is for france. But they ll go thru

    1. tutankamun
      • 17 Years
      1 month, 22 days ago

      And deservedly so. Paraguay are ugly.

  12. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    1-0 France

    Mbappe via penalty kick.

  13. Woking Wanderers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    Cartel 'envelopes' to the Uzbek ref, no doubt. Filth.

  14. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    This is one of the worst refereeing performances I've ever seen. Utter disgrace.

  15. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    Someone said they blame Arsenal for all this parking the bus. Yeah let's all pretend Greece in 04 didn't happen and Mourinho

  16. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    How the heck are these thugs getting away with no yellow cards????!!!!!

  17. Hi I'm Jose
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    One of the worst refeering performance in recent years. Paraguay do all annoying stuff, even blocks penalty spot and "zero" yellow card so far. What a disgrace.

  18. NZREDS
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    Paraguay playing dirty

  19. Nomar
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    Ten minutes before Paraguay deservedly exit these finals.

    Total anti-football team.

    1. NZREDS
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 22 days ago

      Yeah and annoying thing is this game could have been Germany France which would have been epic

      1. tutankamun
        • 17 Years
        1 month, 22 days ago

        Should’ve been if not for that dodgy disallowed goal.

  20. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    That pass count difference is just astounding.

    1. Nomar
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 22 days ago

      The lack of Paraguayan yellow cards is worse!

  21. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    Two nice saves from the Paraguayan goalie.

  22. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    France win, advance and face Morocco in the Quarterfinals.

  23. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    All the previous matchdays Ive had 30/40 points after 2 games

  24. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    Surely that ref has to be investigated after that performance??!! He didn’t even give the penalty either!! Definitely something fishy!!

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 22 days ago

      He is on the plane home now
      FIFA will investigate and find nothing

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 22 days ago

        Very true mate!! Absolutely shocking

  25. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    That is genuinely the worst refereeing performance I've ever seen, bar none

    1. Woking Wanderers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      1 month, 22 days ago

      Cartels promising a few kilos.

  26. karam94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    Not sure the referee was ever in control of that game which just let Paraguay continue the dark arts. A miserable watch as a neutral, but also as an owner of quadruple France players.

  27. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    Maybe 20 years ago, in South American Tournaments, Both teams would play like Paraguay. You had to pull a knife to get a Yellow

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 22 days ago

      Reminded me of that Australia Rugby Tournament

  28. Moxon
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    Which MD will the 3rd-Place match be included in? Semi-final or final?

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 22 days ago

      Final

  29. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    Michael Oliver was getting trashed for giving too many yellows in the early game, but Im sure he feels smug right now.

  30. AAAFootball
    • 1 Year
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Stick or twist on mbappe 9? Would be twisting to vini.

    1. Ausman
      • 3 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      That’s a tough one. I have both and Capt Mbappe so I’m sticking with him. Go with your gut.

      1. AAAFootball
        • 1 Year
        1 month, 21 days ago

        Gut says twist i think, as after vini I have a solid run too in Kane, cucu, dest, Messi, so if vini blanks I feel i ca rescue it.

        1. Ausman
          • 3 Years
          1 month, 21 days ago

          Go for it. Good luck

    2. Mozumbus
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Twist