Former Sweden international, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has reacted to Paraguay’s physical approach to their 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 encounter with France.
The Swedish icon acknowledged that such physicality would have posed significant challenges for him had he participated in the match, as Les Bleus narrowly overcame the resilient South American team.
France exhibited dominance against Paraguay at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday evening, securing a 1-0 victory to advance to a quarter-final showdown with Morocco.
The decisive moment came just over 20 minutes before the final whistle when substitute, Desire Doue was fouled in the penalty area.
A VAR review prompted referee, Ilgiz Tantashev to consult the pitchside monitor, leading to Kylian Mbappe calmly converting the penalty awarded in the 70th minute.
Ibrahimovic praised the French captain and his teammates for their composed reaction to the persistent provocations from Paraguay’s players.
The former striker, who was known for his physical duels in his own playing days, admired their cool response under pressure.
He said on FOX Sports, “If I played tonight, I would have got 4 or 5 red cards. France showed composure, they stayed relaxed, they gave them a smile. That is the best way to respond – smile and don’t fall into their games.”
Paraguay reached this stage through a remarkable underdog journey, having stunned Germany in the previous round via penalties.
They employed a disciplined low block, effectively frustrating France for extended periods while maintaining just 24% possession and adopting a defensive stance throughout the match.
Goalkeeper, Orlando Gill delivered an exceptional performance, making crucial saves to repeatedly deny Mbappe.