France 1-0 Paraguay
- Goal: Kylian Mbappe penalty
- France had 76% possession and controlled the match from start to finish
- France produced 15 shots, five on target and 25 touches in the Paraguay box
- Paraguay created only 0.13 xG and failed to register a shot on target
- France are through to face Morocco in the quarter-finals
- Paraguay are out, so Miguel Almiron, Julio Enciso and the Paraguay defence leave fantasy squads
- Fantasy targets for R8: Mbappe, Dembele, Olise, Upamecano, Kounde, Saliba and Maignan
France are into the quarter-finals, and this was a proper France knockout performance: calm, controlled, patient and almost impossible for Paraguay to escape. The score says 1-0, but the match did not feel like a coin flip. France squeezed the pitch, kept Paraguay pinned in, and waited for the decisive moment.
Mbappe (10.5) got the goal from the spot, which matters for fantasy because penalties are still the cleanest route to points. But the wider France picture is just as important. Dembele (10.0), Olise (9.5) and the defence all move into R8 planning because France now have Morocco, a tough but winnable quarter-final with decent clean-sheet-shield appeal.
This was not a wild attacking game. It was a control game. France gave Paraguay almost nothing, and that is exactly why the defenders and Maignan now matter as much as the attackers for R8 squads.
Team Stats
The fantasy takeaway is simple: Paraguay barely got out. They had only four touches in the France box and no shots on target. That is the profile you want before looking at French defenders, Maignan, and Clean Sheet Shield ideas.
France's 12 corners and 25 box touches also tell you the attacking floor was there. It was not a game where France scored once and sat back. They kept arriving, kept forcing pressure, and kept Paraguay defending deep.
Expected Goals
Mbappe's penalty is the obvious xG swing, but France still had the better open-play territory and shot pressure. Paraguay's 0.13 xG is the more important defensive note: France did not just keep a clean sheet, they kept Paraguay quiet.
Player Stats
| Player | Team | Price | Output | Match profile | Fantasy verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappe | France | 10.5 | Goal | Scored the penalty, had France's clearest route to goal and remains the penalty-box reference | Still the best France attacker. Demon projects him at 6.8 xPts v Morocco. |
| Ousmane Dembele | France | 10.0 | Blank | Stayed involved in the France attack and benefits from France's huge possession share | Strong but expensive. Demon projects him at 6.4 xPts v Morocco. |
| Michael Olise | France | 9.5 | Blank | Set-piece and creative route still matter when France dominate territory | Good R8 option if you want a France midfielder with chance-creation routes. Demon projects him at 5.9 xPts. |
| Dayot Upamecano | France | 5.3 | Clean sheet | Part of a defence that allowed 0 shots on target and only 0.13 xG | Excellent Shield-style defender for price. Demon projects him at 5.4 xPts v Morocco. |
| Jules Kounde | France | 5.4 | Clean sheet | France controlled his side and Paraguay barely reached dangerous areas | Another strong defender route. Demon projects him at 5.4 xPts. |
| William Saliba | France | 5.3 | Clean sheet | Helped keep Paraguay away from central shots and clear chances | Safe France defensive route at 5.3. Demon projects him at 5.1 xPts. |
| Mike Maignan | France | 5.0 | Clean sheet | No shots on target faced, but the clean-sheet platform was strong | Good goalkeeper route if you want France coverage. Demon projects him at 4.9 xPts. |
| Miguel Almiron | Paraguay | 7.1 | Blank | Paraguay had almost no attacking platform | Tournament over. Remove Paraguay players from squads. |
Demon Notes
- Mbappe is still the first France name. Penalties, minutes, captaincy appeal and goal threat keep him ahead.
- Dembele and Olise are live R8 picks, but you need to compare them with other premium midfielders before spending 9.5-10.0.
- France defenders are the big winners. Paraguay had no shots on target, and Morocco are dangerous but still a lower-scoring matchup than some R8 ties.
- Upamecano, Kounde, Saliba and Maignan all carry clean-sheet-shield appeal against Morocco.
- Paraguay are eliminated, so do not hold their players for R8.
What It Means For France v Morocco
France now face Morocco in R8. This is a proper fantasy decision, not a free hit. Morocco have Hakimi (6.0), Brahim Diaz (6.4), Ounahi (6.2) and Bounou (4.7), but France are favourites and the projection table currently leans blue.
According to Demon projections, France have a 59.9% advance chance and Morocco sit at 40.1%. The France clean-sheet-shield number is 42.7%, while Morocco are down at 14.8%. That makes France defenders much more attractive than Morocco defenders for R8, even though Hakimi still has attacking upside.
Best Players To Pick From France v Morocco
| Name | Team | Price | Expected points | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappe | France | 10.5 | 6.8 | Morocco |
| Ousmane Dembele | France | 10.0 | 6.4 | Morocco |
| Michael Olise | France | 9.5 | 5.9 | Morocco |
| Dayot Upamecano | France | 5.3 | 5.4 | Morocco |
| Jules Kounde | France | 5.4 | 5.4 | Morocco |
| William Saliba | France | 5.3 | 5.1 | Morocco |
| Mike Maignan | France | 5.0 | 4.9 | Morocco |
| Achraf Hakimi | Morocco | 6.0 | 4.6 | France |
| Brahim Diaz | Morocco | 6.4 | 4.2 | France |
- Mbappe is the premium France captain/pick route.
- Dembele and Olise are strong, but the price is high, so compare them against other R8 midfielders before locking.
- The France defence looks very playable. Upamecano, Kounde, Saliba and Maignan all project well for the fixture.
- Hakimi is the Morocco player who can still justify interest because defender points plus attacking threat can beat a bad clean-sheet number.
Before locking transfers, check the live table. Visit our World Cup Fantasy projected points model for the latest France v Morocco xPts, prices, xMins, team xG, advance chance and shield chance before the R8 deadline.