France coach Didier Deschamps says he was concerned that Kylian Mbappé could be repeatedly fouled in France’s World Cup last-16 match against Paraguay. According to reports, Deschamps feared Paraguay would “chop down” Mbappé, with the encounter described as tense and physical.
The match remains goalless for a long stretch, with France not breaking the deadlock until after around 70 minutes. Despite the physical nature of Paraguay’s approach, France ultimately advance from the last-16 stage. The accounts characterize the game as “ill-tempered,” suggesting a high level of aggression and disruption.
Across the coverage, the common thread is Deschamps’ preoccupation with the risk to Mbappé and the overall tone of the match, which features frequent confrontations and a defensive, combative style from Paraguay. No additional specifics about the coach’s remarks or any particular incident involving Mbappé are provided in the supplied excerpts.
