Gustavo Alfaro: France started time-wasting because they realized how difficult this win was

Paraguay head coach Gustavo Alfaro reflected on his team's narrow defeat against France in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16. Despite the elimination, the manager expressed pride in how his squad stood up to one of the tournament's primary title contenders.

Alfaro pointed out that France's behavior in the final stages of the game was a sign of the pressure his team applied. He noted that the French team, usually known for finishing games early, was forced to run down the clock.

France used to decide games in 60 minutes. Today, if it wasn't for that penalty, they wouldn't have been able to create an advantage. That's why they celebrated so much and started time-wasting at the end. They know what it cost them. Gustavo Alfaro

The only goal of the match arrived midway through the second half, when Kylian Mbappé converted a penalty kick, securing France's passage to the quarter-finals.

For Paraguay, this tournament marked a return to the World Cup stage after a 16-year absence. Alfaro emphasized that the level of competition they displayed against a team with the pedigree of France—who won the 2018 tournament and reached the 2022 final—is a source of great pride given the challenges the squad has faced.