'Aggressiveness doesn't win a match', says France's Deschamps ahead of Paraguay clash

Paraguay sent Germany packing in the round of 32 after beating them on penalties. The Albirroja survived the group stage as one of the eight best third-placed teams, finishing there in a group with the USA, Australia, and Turkey.

Paraguay's best-ever campaign does not come as a surprise to France manager Didier Deschamps, who, unlike Desire Doue during the same press conference, did not, at least in part, attribute the success to an aggressive style of play.

"Paraguay didn't just come out of nowhere. Like all South American teams, they have a big heart. It's not aggressiveness that wins a match," Deschamps said.

"It's a team that knows its football well. They have good players: Enciso, Almiron... They know each other, they do things well. But that's not all."

France striker Kylian Mbappe has wrote the headlines for France with six goals in four games, but Deschamps points to a more delicate line in his team that makes the difference.

"We talk about the attack because we're scoring goals. But between the defensive line and the attack, there's the midfield. Whether it's Aurélien (Tchouameni), Adrien (Rabiot), or Manu (Kone), they provide balance and pressing. You can't separate the lines. It's a puzzle, you need to have connections."

Saturday's meeting between France and Paraguay is no first, with Deschamps present when the French beat the South Americans in the round of 16 in 1998. The game was decided by a golden goal from Laurent Blanc - a memory that made Deschamps smile.

"My players weren't born at that time, but I remember it. It was an important moment for me, for France. It was a tough match; it's part of football history, of World Cup history. Today, it's a different match, but Paraguay's qualities are the same."