Mbappe penalty sends France into World Cup quarters
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- France beat Paraguay 1-0 in Philadelphia, with a second-half penalty from Kylian Mbappe proving the difference against a resolute opponent.
- The victory sends France, described as World Cup favourites in pre-tournament coverage, through to the quarter-final round.
- Paraguay were characterised as 'stubborn' and 'resolute' by outlets covering the match, holding the favourites to a single-goal margin.
Why it matters: France, tipped as World Cup favourites, required a second-half penalty from star forward Mbappe to break down a resolute Paraguay side, suggesting their tournament path will not be straightforward even against lower-ranked opposition in the knockout rounds.
