FIFA World Cup: France's pursuit of another World Cup crown gathers momentum on Saturday as Didier Deschamps' side takes on surprise package Paraguay in the Round of 16, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
Few expected this fixture when the knockout bracket was finalised. Germany appeared destined to stand in France's way, only for Paraguay to produce one of the tournament's biggest shocks. Gustavo Alfaro's disciplined outfit absorbed relentless pressure before surviving a dramatic penalty shootout, in which missed opportunities nearly cost them dearly, only for José Canale to finally deliver the decisive strike.
That memorable triumph has earned Paraguay a far sterner examination. France has looked every bit the title favourite throughout the competition. Ten goals in the group stage were followed by a commanding victory over Sweden, underlining the remarkable balance between attacking flair and collective cohesion. Deschamps has resisted tactical excess, instead allowing an extraordinary generation of talent to express itself within a straightforward but devastating framework.
