The referee may have missed a few fouls, but there was no chance Kylian Mbappe was going to miss that penalty.

He has now scored 19 goals in 19 World Cup games, taking him second in the all time World Cup goalscorers list- just one goal behind Messi on 20.

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

The 2026 World Cup has been characterised by refereeing that has tried to promote a free-flowing game.

But it went wrong for Ilgiz Tantashev.

Tantashev should have been fully aware of how Paraguay were likely to play - tough tackling and trying to limit France's ability to play freely.

The Uzbek referee should have clamped down earlier, shown his authority and given the impression that the rough tactics would not be tolerated.

See how Michael Oliver officiated in Saturday's earlier last-16 match between Canada and Morocco, producing six yellow cards before half-time. The game then calmed down, with only two shown in the second half.

The opposite happened in Philadelphia.

That the foul count was 13 to Paraguay and 11 to France does not tell a true story.

The referee missed many more fouls by the South American team – both tactical and off the ball.

Even more remarkably, not one Paraguay player was booked. But three from France were.

France advance, thanks to the penalty awarded through VAR and not the referee.

Image source, Getty Images

Thomas Hitzlsperger
Former Aston Villa midfielder

I had a lot of respect [for Paraguay] going in to the game. Joe [Hart] said disgraceful, but I have other German words I would use for them but I don't know them in English. I have little to no respect for them now. They way the behaved on the penalty incient.

If you are from Paraguay you probably like the team, they are like 'warriros' - if you are French or neutral, you can have no respect for them anymore. This is not just disgraceful, this is even worse.

Julien Laurens
ESPN journalist on BBC Radio 5 Live

For me, there are boundaries and limits to what you can do.

The fact that Paraguay have had zero yellow cards today, I just find it incredible.

I don't know how the French have three yellow cards and Paraguay none today.

France got through that test like they should have, it was not easy, it was not pretty but all they care about is that they won.

Some of the things that the French players did, falling on the floor and getting frustrated was exactly what Paraguay wanted.

It could have turned ugly and gone to extra-time and penalties and then everything is very, very different to what they feel now in the dressing room.

I think this may be the craziest stat of them all from last night.

Despite committing 13 fouls and causing multiple arguments on the pitch, Paraguay didn't receive a single card during the match.

This is the first time Paraguay didn’t pick up a single card in a World Cup match since 1998 against Nigeria.

• Gustavo Velazquez kicked the penalty spot to try to scuff it up before Kylian Mbappe's penalty
• Dayot Upamecano received an elbow in the ribs
• Matias Galarza put his hand in Jules Kounde's face
• Galarza went down when Michael Olise grabbed his shirt to get him booked
• Andres Cubas went through Adrien Rabiot with a poor tackle

Image source, Getty Images

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport

"Paraguay's players were an absolute disgrace," former England goalkeeper Joe Hart told BBC One. "If they were on my team, I'd be dragging them off the pitch."

After dismantling all before them at this World Cup, France had to find a new way to win to keep alive their dream of regaining the trophy they last lifted in 2018. Their 1-0 victory over Paraguay was hard earned.

Paraguay had won over neutrals by causing a major shock in the last 32, knocking out Germany on penalties.

But, in a bad-tempered match in the punishing Philadelphia heat, they showed their ugly side.

Andres Cubas escaped a booking after clattering into Adrien Rabiot. Juan Jose Caceres kicked out at Kylian Mbappe, and that went unpunished too.

Astonishingly, while Les Bleus players Manu Kone, Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise were all cautioned, not one Paraguay player was booked. Not even when Gabriel Avalos dropped the elbow into the stomach of Dayot Upamecano when Paraguay were chasing the game.

"It was embarrassing to see," former England defender Micah Richards told BBC One.

"Paraguay are better than that. Defensively they were so good and they didn't need to get into these antics."

France's victory secured a quarter-final date with Morocco at Boston Stadium on Thursday (21:00 BST kick-off).

The decisive moment came with 20 minutes left when Diego Gomez had stuck out his leg to bring down Desire Doue. Referee Ilgiz Tantashev - whose overall performance was widely criticised for being too weak - reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor, and awarded a penalty.

Even then, Paraguay's players crowded the Uzbek official in an attempt to delay the penalty kick, while Gustavo Velazquez tried to scuff the penalty spot before Mbappe scored his seventh goal of the tournament to go level with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.

"There were some insults from the other bench we could have done without," said France boss Didier Deschamps in his news conference afterwards.

Even after the full-time whistle, there was a scuffle as Velazquez attempted to confront France players.

"Paraguay tried to wind up the France players, little shoves and nudges but not enough to get a yellow card," former Scotland winger Pat Nevin told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Every single dark art you can use."

Adwaidh Rajan
BBC Sport

World Cup favourites France were made to sweat to book their quarter-final place but Kylian Mbappe's second-half penalty proved enough to help them past a resolute Paraguay in Philadelphia.

Paraguay limited the two-time winners to very few chances until substitute Desire Doue was fouled inside the box by Brighton's Diego Gomez and referee Ilgiz Tantashev pointed to the spot after a video assistant referee (VAR) intervention.

Mbappe took the penalty and sent Orlando Gill the wrong way to ensure France's progress, as he drew level with Argentina great Lionel Messi on seven goals in the tournament's Golden Boot race.

The last-16 tie kicked off in extreme heat, with temperatures soaring to 38C, but it appeared to be no deterrent for France, who dominated possession from the start.

However, the Paraguay defence proved difficult to break down and that frustration was evident in the 36th minute when Mbappe lashed out after a foul on him by Andres Cubas.

Gustavo Alfaro's side, who upset Germany on penalties in the last 32, defended resolutely during a cagey first half that ended goalless and with neither side registering a shot on target.

France showed greater urgency after the break and finally forced Gill into a save through Manu Kone's effort from distance in the 54th minute - their first on target.

But it was not until Doue replaced Bradley Barcola on the left wing that Les Bleus found the moment they had been searching for.

The 21-year-old Paris St-Germain forward drove into the box four minutes after coming on and danced past a Paraguay defender before Gomez stuck out a leg to bring him down, allowing Mbappe to seal France's place among the final eight.

Let's start with France, who got past Paraguay and their questionable tactics.

That didn't matter too much to Kylian Mbappe, who scored yet again...

Morning folks!

Hope everyone managed an early night while gearing up for Mexico v England later…

Before we get carried away with tonight’s build‑up, let’s wake you up with yesterday's action first.