Read for 5 minutes10 Jul 2026 07:22 AM IST
France’s match against Morocco was considered a quarter-final match. Against the Moroccans’ unrelenting stamina, the French put together a trove of attacking talent. Instead, Boston saw another French canter to the finish line, in the World Cup final. That’s the story of this World Cup – different teams trying their own spin on solving the French puzzle – each failing to varying degrees.
Sneak peek of the Senegal show
One of the problems that the French team faced in this World Cup was in the first half against Senegal. The reigning African Cup of Nations champions arrived at the highest level of the organisation, eager to physically impose themselves on the French front four. They did not entrust Didier Deschamps’ men with the battle for possession and were competing on a level playing field. But then Michael Ollis swung into the middle of the pitch from the right wing and a devastating two-way combination between him and Mbappe – which has defined this competition in its final term – took over in the second half. The combined distance of 120km covered by the French that day was the longest they have covered at this World Cup: a testament to how Senegal made the champion contenders sweat.
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Sweden is easy to crush
Perhaps the easiest game the French have had at this World Cup was the Swedes, who were rattled by the devastating nature of France’s attack. A number that defines their lack of any game plan to counter the French top 4 – 202 ball receptions in the final third of the Swedish half. Sweden stopped keeping the ball, they stopped defending it when it reached the quarter of the pitch. And eventually they gave up three unanswered goals. France played their most dominant game of this World Cup campaign and were virtually unopposed.
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Kylian Mbappe scored the opening goal against Sweden goalkeeper Jacob Vidal Zetterstrom in the 32nd match of the World Cup round. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Materiality of Paraguay
Paraguay only managed 22% possession. There was not a single shot on their target; Under 200 passes in 90 minutes of football. But they are a team that the French really struggled to score against and failed to score open-play goals against. Mostly it was in midfield and hard lines of defense that did not allow the French midfield to operate in their preferred depth. They were the first team in this World Cup to lock down Olis and deny the attacking midfielder space to roam. All Paraguay did to add to their block was to humiliate the French. In true South American fashion, the Paraguayans hit Mbappe and Olis constantly and never allowed their attack to gain momentum. A draw was never an option and the South Americans did their best to take the game into extra-time with just five shots on target against them before Mbappe’s penalty finally broke their back. A tough watch, but possibly the best response to the French attacking quartet.
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Mbappe is in pain during the World Cup round 16 football match against Paraguay. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Moroccan runners
The match was set to be a quarter-final match thanks to Morocco’s industrious runs. Instead, the French never had to worry. The Moroccans had to make important changes to their personnel which forced them to play at their best. They missed out on a real offensive threat and Brahim Diaz alone wasn’t enough to ask questions of the French. Even with those limitations, the Moroccans made more passes than the French and kept the ball more than their opponents.
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They set up their midfield block to play well behind Ollis but when Mbappe scored out of thin air, the wind was knocked out of their sails. The discipline they showed in keeping Aulis quiet waned and the French quickly found their second through Ousmane Dembele. Offensively, Morocco had nothing going for them, managing only one shot on target. In the end they were the ones who came between what might have been a much closer tie.