Paraguay pulled off a stunning double upset, defeating France 2-1 in the round of 16 and Morocco 3-2 on penalties in the quarterfinals to reach the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 2010. The victories mark the first time a South American team outside Brazil and Argentina has reached the last four since 2014, when Argentina lost to Germany in the final.
Round of 16: Paraguay vs. France
In the round of 16, Paraguay faced France, the 2018 champions and a pre-tournament favorite. Paraguay took an early lead through a Miguel Almirón strike in the 12th minute, but France equalized via Kylian Mbappé in the 35th. The match remained level until the 78th minute, when substitute Ángel Romero scored the winner from a corner. According to FIFA statistics, Paraguay had only 38% possession but registered 5 shots on target to France's 4.
Quarterfinal: Paraguay vs. Morocco
In the quarterfinals, Paraguay faced Morocco, who had eliminated Spain and Portugal. The match ended 0-0 after extra time, with both teams creating few clear chances. Paraguay goalkeeper Antony Silva was the hero in the penalty shootout, saving two Moroccan spot kicks. Paraguay converted three of their five penalties, with Almirón, Romero, and Gustavo Gómez scoring. Morocco missed their third and fifth penalties, with Silva saving from Sofyan Amrabat and Achraf Hakimi.
Historical Context
Paraguay's run is the deepest by a South American team not named Brazil or Argentina since Uruguay reached the semifinals in 2010. The last time Paraguay reached this stage was in 2010, when they lost to Spain 1-0 in the quarterfinals. The team's defensive organization and counter-attacking style have been praised by pundits. Manager Guillermo Barros Schelotto said after the Morocco win: "We believed from the start. This is for the whole country."
Semifinal Opponent
Paraguay will face either England or Portugal in the semifinals. The match is scheduled for July 10 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. If they win, they would advance to the final on July 14.
