<\/p>\n
France needed a second-half Kylian Mbappe penalty to break down a stubborn Paraguay side, winning a niggly World Cup last-16 clash 1-0 to set up a quarter-final showdown with Morocco.<\/p>\n
Paraguay\u2019s efforts to get under the skin of France\u2019s superstars worked for three quarters of a game played in front of 68,324 fans in Philadelphia in heatwave conditions.<\/p>\n
Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now ><\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n However, the quality in the French ranks eventually shone through, with Mbappe converting from the spot on 70 minutes after Desire Doue was brought down.<\/p>\n This was not an attacking masterclass by the French like they had produced in their previous games, but Paraguay did not allow them to play that way.<\/p>\n It was very much a mismatch, though, with Les Bleus having almost all of the ball and Paraguay not managing a shot on target until the 90th minute.<\/p>\n Mbappe\u2019s brilliant World Cup on a personal level continued as he rejoined Lionel Messi as the tournament\u2019s joint-top scorer with seven goals.<\/p>\n The Real Madrid striker now has 19 World Cup goals in total — from 19 appearances — meaning he is just one behind Messi\u2019s overall record of 20.<\/p>\n Didier Deschamps\u2019 team will now return to their Boston base to prepare for a last-eight clash in nearby Foxborough next Thursday against the Moroccans, who beat Canada 3-0 earlier<\/a>.<\/p>\n It was a sweltering day in Philadelphia, with temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit) and extreme weather warnings in place in case of storms.<\/p>\n France\u2019s last visit to Lincoln Financial Field, during the group phase, was affected by storms, as rain and thunder led to a two-hour delay during their 3-0 win over Iraq.<\/p>\n This time there were no interruptions to a game played on the 250th anniversary of US independence, and in the city where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776.<\/p>\n A pre-match concert on the pitch featured a rendition of the US national anthem by the actress Idina Menzel, a performance by hip-hop band The Roots, and a US Air Force flyover.<\/p>\n A fireworks display in the city to mark July 4 was not due to take place until later, and the anticipated French pyrotechnics on the pitch were contained for long spells by the Paraguayans.<\/p>\n Ranked 41st in the world, Paraguay had ousted Germany on penalties in the last round and were aiming to claim another huge scalp here.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018Everyone knows better\u2019: Aussie bosses issue verdict on Popa\u2019s shock Socceroos calls<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018Rather be us\u2019: Eliminated coach\u2019s \u2018bold\u2019 World Cup claim as opposite number left baffled<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n