Dirty tactics exposed in "absolute disgrace" World Cup clash

World Cup daily news. We will bring you the latest from around the world as the FIFA World Cup 2026™ finally gets under way (All times AEST).

Four players are seen surrounding Dembele and some using their studs to scuff up the spot - only for the Frenchman to hand the ball to Mbappe for the kick.

It obviously didn't make a difference, he scored and the spot kick was enough for France to reach their fourth consecutive World Cup quarter-final stage.

“If they were on my team I’d be dragging half of them off the pitch. I would never want to win that way.

“Even Kylian Mbappe, even with him laughing, you can tell inside he wants to do something else.

“That is not how I want to play the game. Disgusting. I’m so glad he (Mbappe) sat him down and slotted this. Yes Kylian, yes!”

Favourites to go all the way, they were tested today by Paraguay and the heat. It's the first time this tournament they have not scored more than two goals.

Former Germany international Thomas Hitzlsperger said it was a miracle the French side got through with no major injuries and said it was the worst refereeing he had witness all tournament.

“There is other words I would use in German but I don’t have them in English, because I have little to no respect anymore," he said.

“The way Kylian Mbappe and the entire team have controlled themselves, that they didn’t walk off the pitch injured, to me is almost a miracle.

Later in the game, Juan Jose Caceres was bundled over by Mbappe and then lashed out with his foot, catching the Frenchman in the shin with his studs in an incident many likened to David Beckham's infamous kick on Diego Simeone in 1998.

When asked about the Paraguay strategy and dirty tactics after the match, Mbappe said there is no right way to play.

“If we have to get our hands dirty, we’ll get our hands dirty. We have no problem with that.

“They thought we were going to come and play in tuxedos, that we were just going to come and make some nice plays.

“We know how to play dirty football too and we did it today, we won, and even in that, we were better than them.

“It’s their way of playing football. Everyone plays with their strengths. There is no right or wrong way to play football.

The referee has gone to the sidelines for a possible penalty "No 8 kick attacking player inside the area, this is a penalty!"

Tunisia have lost two coaches this tournament having sacked Sabri Lamouchi after their first group game and now, his replacement Herve Renard, has stepped down after just 18 days.

It was a disastrous campaign that was marred in behind the scenes fighting and political pressure from a leadership point of view.

Renard has now represented three different countries at the same number of world Cups with previous stints at Morocco in 2018 and Saudi Arabia in 2022.

“Before leaving, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the FTF for allowing me to participate in the 2026 World Cup, Renard said.

Be interesting to see what changes come on, it's 38 degrees at the ground.

The first of the three co-host nations is out of the tournament after Morocco stormed into the quarter-finals with a 3-0 victory.

It was a physical affair with eight yellow cards shown - which could cause Morocco some issues moving forward - but a second half brace from Azz-Eddine Ounahi and a goal from Soufiane Rahimi in the 98th minute secured a spot in the last 8.

"They made a couple more plays than us but cracking up the intensity was not the issue, it's just they had a bit of quality in the final third and we lacked the ability to make a play when we needed to," he says.

"What a privilege our fans have to follow a team like this that goes after the game like this and doesn't play defensive and shows they can be better. I'd rather be us than them. As good as Morocco are, I'd rather be us. I couldn't be happier."

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