Rayan Cherki: 'How many fouls did Paraguay have? 30 or 40?'
France forward Rayan Cherki commented on his team's hard-fought victory against Paraguay in the World Cup Round of 16.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Bryan Berlin
France advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup after a narrow 1-0 victory over Paraguay. Following the physically demanding encounter, French forward Rayan Cherki praised his teammates' resilience while pointing to the aggressive tactical approach of their opponents.
You would be better off asking those who played from the first minute about the match itself. Because even for those who came off the bench, it was exhausting. Those who played the whole match are true warriors from start to finish. Rayan Cherki
Cherki highlighted the high number of fouls committed by Paraguay, questioning the disciplinary outcome of the game. Despite the intensity of the contest, the forward remains focused on the team's success in reaching the next stage.
How many fouls did they have? 30 or 40? And how many yellow cards? But in the end, it doesn't matter because we are in the quarter-finals anyway. Rayan Cherki
France is now set to face Morocco in the quarter-finals. Cherki noted that the squad now has five days to recover physically and mentally before preparing for their next challenge.