India, July 5 -- France arrived in Philadelphia carrying the tag of favourites for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with many tipping them as the team to beat. But instead of the free-flowing football they have become known for, Didier Deschamps' side were dragged into a bruising, ill-tempered battle by Paraguay before grinding out a hard-fought 1-0 win in sweltering conditions. The only goal came from Kylian Mbappe's penalty.

The France captain spent much of the evening at the receiving end of Paraguay's relentless physical approach. While he largely kept his composure throughout the contest, he made sure Paraguay knew exactly how he felt once the final whistle blew.

As players gathered for the customary post-match handshakes, Paraguay goalkee...