Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill has explained the dramatic post-match incident involving Kylian Mbappe after France’s heated 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16, admitting he “lost my temper” after the French captain ignored his attempt to shake hands.The tense encounter at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia was one of the most physical and ill-tempered matches of the tournament, with Mbappe repeatedly targeted by Paraguay’s aggressive approach. Despite the constant challenges and verbal exchanges throughout the game, the France captain kept his composure and ultimately had the final say by scoring the winning penalty in the 70th minute. The controversy continued after the final whistle when players lined up for the customary post-match handshakes. Television cameras captured Gill extending his hand towards Mbappe, only for the France captain to walk past and celebrate with his teammates and supporters. Moments later, a frustrated Gill threw the ball at Mbappe, striking him on the back.“I tried to shake his hand, but since he didn’t pay me any attention, I lost my temper,” Gill said, as quoted by news agency AP, after the match. “But anyway, that was all I did; I calmed down afterwards.”Mbappe appeared unfazed by the incident, having already played a decisive role in securing France’s place in the quarter-finals. The striker converted from the penalty spot after a VAR review determined that Diego Gomez had fouled Desire Doue inside the box.Reflecting on the fiery nature of the contest, Mbappe insisted France had been prepared for Paraguay’s physical tactics.“We knew what kind of match it was going to be,” Mbappé said in French. “We can also get our hands dirty, we know how to do it. We know how to play ugly football. Guess they were thinking we were going to show up in tuxedos, but we were ready.”The match, played in extreme heat with temperatures approaching 38 degrees Celsius, saw several flashpoints involving Mbappe, who was repeatedly fouled and involved in multiple confrontations. Paraguay’s Andrés Cubas and Matías Galarza were among the players who clashed with the France captain during the contest.France coach Didier Deschamps acknowledged the challenge posed by both Paraguay’s tactics and the weather conditions.“Given our style of play, it was harder to give high intensity,” Deschamps said.The victory extended France’s perfect record at the tournament to five wins from five matches, with Les Bleus outscoring their opponents 14-2 so far. Deschamps also welcomed the stern examination his side faced against Paraguay.“As I said to the players, we’ve had easy games so far, so it is good to have a tough one,” Deschamps said.France will now face Morocco in the quarter-finals as they continue their bid to reclaim the World Cup trophy they last won in 2018.
