Matter the France result, Paraguay's inspired World Cup has been a success

Paraguay’s World Cup run is framed as a continuation of its defensive resilience and fighting spirit, with the team attempting to frustrate France again after a notable past meeting. Nearly 28 years ago, Paraguay had been close to reaching a penalty shootout at home against France, before Laurent Blanc scored the first “golden goal” in World Cup history and France went on to become champions. In the 2026 tournament, Paraguay’s campaign is contrasted with France’s current strength, described as more fearsome than the 1998 side, which featured several key changes and talents under Didier Deschamps. Paraguay’s squad is said to be unchanged as it looks to refuse to be outplayed, buoyed by a dramatic elimination of Germany on Monday. The article also points to Paraguay’s setback in the opening match against the United States, where a 4-1 defeat highlighted difficulties in defensive responses. The context is set ahead of a Saturday match in Philadelphia.