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We assess the teams who played in the tournament’s last 16 before the next round of games beginsA very different side of France came to the fore, proving they are not mere showboaters, there is plenty of steel, grit and determination among the ranks. It was a brutal encounter as they became targets for Paraguay, who added menace to the low block. No one in blue retreated to the shadows, instead taking the overaggression head on, using it as fuel. “To anyone who wants to go to war with us, this is what you should expect,” Rayan Cherki said. It was the biggest test they have faced this far but intimidation tactics do not work, it transpires, leaving everyone else wondering how to stop them. Continue reading...
This was the least convincing performance by the World Cup favourites and their quarter-final opponents will also make it uncomfortable for themThere were furious celebrations when France secured their quarter‑final place. The entire squad charged from the centre spot to the end of the Philadelphia Stadium where the core of French support was gathered. There was a pile-on, there was roaring and chests were actively thumped. Leading the proceedings, as ever, was Kylian Mbappé.As soon as the revelry had subsided, the France captain turned to the TV cameras and framed the narrative of the game. This had been less of a match and more of a battle, he said, against a Paraguay side who had nagged, nibbled and, occasionally, smashed their way through proceedings. “We knew what kind of match we were going to have,” Mbappé said. “But we know how to get our hands dirty.” Continue reading...
Julian Nagelsmann is out as the Germany head coach following the team's shock exit from the World Cup at the hands of Paraguay in the round of 32 with talks already being sought with Jürgen Klopp to replace him.
