Deschamps hails France for staying cool in World Cup win over Paraguay

PHILADELPHIA, JULY 5: France coach Didier Deschamps hailed his side for keeping their cool against an aggressive Paraguay team in heatwave conditions Saturday as the favourites reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

"It wasn't easy. They used every resource possible. It is maybe not the kind of football that brings people to the stadium, playing with that aggression, exaggerating everything," Deschamps told French broadcaster M6.

Kylian Mbappe decided the game with a penalty in the 70th minute on a sweltering afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, following a foul on Desire Doue.

Mbappe's goal was his seventh so far at the tournament, pulling him level again with Lionel Messi as the joint-leading scorer. Before that, it had been a frustrating afternoon for Les Bleus, and a sharp contrast to their previous free-scoring matches at the tournament.    �"AFP