STAR WORLD CUP PREVIEW Sat: Paraguay v France

The tests don’t get any easier for Paraguay after knocking out Germany as they face France in the round of 16 on Saturday in Philadelphia, writes JOE CITRONE.

Paraguay stunned four-time champions Germany on penalties to reach the last 16, a result nobody outside Asuncion saw coming. France, meanwhile, have been ruthless – four wins from four, three goals or more in every game, with Kylian Mbappe once again their star on the big stage.

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Paraguay v France
FIFA World Cup Round of 16
22:00 ITV1

HEAD-TO-HEAD
JUN 2017 FRIENDLY France 5-0 Paraguay
JUN 2014 FRIENDLY France 1-1 Paraguay
MAY 2008 FRIENDLY France 0-0 Paraguay
JUN 1998 WORLD CUP France 1-0 Paraguay
JUN 1958 WORLD CUP France 7-3 Paraguay

PARAGUAY
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP Paraguay 1-1 Germany
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP Australia 0-0 Paraguay
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP Paraguay 1-0 Türkiye
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP USA 4-1 Paraguay
JUN 2026 FRIENDLY Paraguay 4-0 Nicaragua

FRANCE
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP France 3-0 Sweden
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP France 4-1 Norway
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP France 3-0 Iraq
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP France 3-1 Senegal
JUN 2026 FRIENDLY France 3-1 Northern Ireland

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Paraguay have never beaten France in five attempts, and the last meeting – a 5-0 friendly romp in 2017 – tells its own story. This French side is sharper again, and stopping Mbappe, Dembele and Olise for 90 minutes is a different beast to grinding out Germany.

France have hit three-plus goals in every game at this tournament and Mbappe just keeps scoring in the knockouts. I can’t see this drying up now, and that’s why I am backing the build-a-bet of France to win, over 2.5 goals and Kylian Mbappe at 23/20 with starsports.bet.

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