Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill has explained what happened after the match Kylian Mbappe After France’s 1-0 win over Paraguay in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16, he admitted he was “disappointed” after the French captain ignored his attempt to shake his hand.The tense encounter at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia was one of the most intense and furious of the tournament, with Mbappe repeatedly targeted by Paraguay’s aggressive tactics. Despite constant pressure and verbal exchanges throughout the game, the French captain settled down and eventually had the final say by scoring the winning penalty in the 70th minute. The controversy continued until the final whistle as the players lined up to shake hands after the game. Television cameras caught Gill extending his hand to Mbappe, only for the France captain to pass and celebrate with his teammates and supporters. Moments later, a frustrated Gill threw the ball at Mbappe, hitting him in the back.“I tried to shake his hand, but he didn’t pay attention to me, so I got angry,” said Gill, quoted by the AP news agency, after the game. “Anyway, that’s all I did; I settled down after that.”Mbappe appeared unfazed by the incident, having already played a key role in France’s quarter-finals. The striker converted from a penalty after a VAR review that Diego Gomez fouled Desire Doue inside the box.Reflecting on the intensity of the competition, Mbappe insisted that France were ready for Paraguay’s tactics.“We knew what kind of game it was going to be,” Mbappé said in French. “We can get our hands dirty, we know how to do it. We know how to play dirty football. Guess they thought we’d show up in tuxedos, but we were ready.”The match, which was played in sweltering temperatures of up to 38 degrees Celsius, saw several flashpoints involving Mbappe, who was repeatedly insulted and involved in a number of controversies. Paraguayan Andrés Cubas and Matías Galarza were among the players who clashed with the French captain during the tournament.France coach Didier Deschamps acknowledged the challenges posed by Paraguay’s tactics and the weather.“Given our style of play, it was difficult to give power,” said Deschamps.The victory extended France’s record at the tournament to five wins from five games, with Les Bleus outscoring their opponents 14-2 so far. Deschamps also received the sternest test his team faced against Paraguay.As I said to the players, we have had an easy game so far, so it is good to have a tough game,” said Deschamps.France now face Morocco in the quarter-finals as they continue their quest to reclaim the World Cup trophy they last won in 2018.
