'Good old fashioned honest defending and some of the dark arts' Tim Vickery on Paraguay's Exit

France vs Paraguay World Cup 2026 promised to be an elite football tactical battle, but nobody expected this level of South American defensive grit. In this video, we break down exactly how Gustavo Alfaro’s tactical plan pushed Didier Deschamps' side to its absolute absolute limits in a tense Round of 16 showdown.

We take a deep dive into the evolution of football’s "dark arts" in the modern VAR age, showcasing how Paraguay masterfully frustrated Kylian Mbappé and limited France's attacking threat for long stretches of the game. From the brilliant defensive line structure to the incredible work rate of Andrés Cubas, this was a masterclass in defensive resilience. However, with Julio Enciso and Miguel Almirón running completely on empty, did their lack of attacking threat ultimately doom them from the start?

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