French national team coach Didier Deschamps confirmed that he requested special protection for star player Kylian Mbappe during the final minutes of the match against Paraguay, which ended in a 1-0 victory for France.
The French national team qualified for the quarter-finals of the World Cup after a difficult match against Paraguay, setting up an anticipated meeting with the Moroccan national team in the next round, in a tough match for a ticket to the semi-finals.
In statements reported by the French newspaper L'Equipe, Deschamps explained that the match was complicated due to the physical strength and defensive solidity of the opposing team, saying: "The match was not easy, and if we had capitalized on the last opportunities, things would have been more comfortable, but Paraguay played with all the methods available to them."
The French coach added, criticizing some of the refereeing decisions: "We faced a well-organized defensive team, but we paid the price for some decisions, as our players received more yellow cards, while the opponent was not punished for similar mistakes."
Deschamps revealed the reason for his request for special protection for Mbappe, explaining: "In the 2018 World Cup, I had to substitute him against Uruguay because of the violent tackles against him, and today I asked some players to be present to protect him in the final minutes because the match does not end until the referee's whistle."
Deschamps concluded his remarks by emphasizing the importance of the victory, saying: "It is an important win and a step forward. Matches against South American teams are always difficult, but we are happy to have qualified and we have enough time to prepare for the next match."
