**Rayan Cherki made yet another cameo appearance in the final exchanges of a France match at the World Cup, this time reaching the quarter-final against Morocco.**
Tournament favourites **France** secured their ticket to the **World Cup quarter-finals**, but were pushed to the limit by a highly disciplined **Paraguay** side in the scorching 38°C heat of Philadelphia.
**Didier Deschamps’** men dominated early possession but struggled to penetrate a stubborn South American low block, with frustration peaking in the first half when **Kylian Mbappé** lashed out following a heavy **Andrés Cubas** tackle.
A cagey, physical opening 45 minutes concluded without a single shot on target from either side, as **Gustavo Alfaro’s** resilient squad looked fully prepared to orchestrate another giant-killing act following their dramatic penalty shootout upset against **Germany** in the previous round.
The tactical complexion of the tie shifted entirely in the second half following the introduction of **Paris Saint-Germain** starlet **Désiré Doué**. The 21-year-old injected immediate verticality on the left wing, slicing into the penalty area before being brought down by Brighton midfielder **Diego Gómez**.
Following a brief VAR review, referee **Ilgiz Tantashev** pointed to the penalty spot, allowing Mbappé to step up and coolly send goalkeeper **Orlando Gill** the wrong way.
The clinical 73rd-minute strike marked Mbappé’s seventh goal of the tournament, pulling him level with **Lionel Messi** in a captivating Golden Boot race and successfully steering Les Bleus through a grueling afternoon into the final eight.
16 Minutes8 Touches5 Accurate Passes100% Pass Accuracy1 Interception
1 Accurate Long Balls
**Data courtesy of FotMob.**