Paraguay head coach Gustavo Alfaro has angrily denied accusations that insults were directed at France manager Didier Deschamps and his late mother during their World Cup round of 16 clash. The encounter, which saw France progress with a 1-0 victory courtesy of a Kylian Mbappe second-half penalty, was marred by heated exchanges and physical play.
Alfaro's denial
When asked about the alleged insults, Alfaro stated: "No, absolutely not. You can't sink that low in football. Never. I thought you were referring to the exchanges between players during the match. I respect him enormously and admire him greatly." He added: "Yes, there were some disputes, particularly regarding VAR. Some were calling for a penalty, others weren't. But, honestly, I've never heard that kind of insult. And knowing my staff, I'm convinced that none of them would behave that way."
Deschamps' complaint
Deschamps had earlier revealed in his post-match press conference that France's bench was subjected to insults. "I could have done without the insults on the bench. Especially some of them," he said without specifying the nature of the comments. The match was ill-tempered, with Paraguay employing a physical approach against the European champions.
Match context
France, as tournament favourites, struggled to break down a resilient Paraguay side until Mbappe's penalty in the second half. The victory set up a quarter-final berth for Les Bleus. Alfaro's Paraguay, despite the defeat, earned praise for their competitive spirit but faced criticism for their aggressive tactics.
