France go in level at 0-0 with Paraguay at half-time in their World Cup last-16 tie in Philadelphia. Les Bleus control the ball for long spells but cannot find a breakthrough against a well-organised Paraguay defence.
France dominate the opening exchanges. They work the ball patiently around the Paraguay box and force an early corner inside three minutes. By the 11th minute, France hold 90 per cent of possession and complete 117 passes to Paraguay’s five.
Paraguay sit in a low block and defend deep whenever France threaten. They offer little going forward but stay compact and organised at the back.
France win seven corners in the first half without truly testing Guillermo Gill. Ousmane Dembele proves their biggest threat. He curls a shot narrowly wide from the right side of the box in the 39th minute and later squares a dangerous ball across goal that Paraguay scramble clear.
Kylian Mbappe goes close twice. Diego Gomez blocks him well enough to prevent a clean header in the 31st minute, and Mbappe later falls awkwardly in a challenge before continuing. Adrien Rabiot fires over from 30 metres in the 33rd minute, and Manu Kone flashes an effort wide before curling another over the bar in first-half stoppage time.
Bradley Barcola picks up a yellow card in the 19th minute for a foul on Juan Jose Caceres. Tempers flare in the 39th minute when Mbappe and Andres Cubas clash following a foul, with Dembele and both goalkeepers getting drawn into the confrontation.
Neither side manages a shot on target inside the opening 27 minutes. Paraguay remain content to soak up pressure and look to hold their shape into the second half.
The referee adds three minutes at the end of the first half. Paraguay reach the break with the scoreline they wanted, while France search for the extra sharpness needed to turn control into goals after the restart.
