BBC pundits reckon Paraguay were lucky to escape without a red card for “assaulting” Kylian Mbappe.
France faced their South American opponents in a boiling hot Philadelphia for a spot in the World Cup quarter-finals.
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Matias Galarza took a swipe at Kylian Mbappe Credit: BBC
He caught the France captain off the ball Credit: BBC
Mbappe was left on the floor in pain Credit: AFP
The incident happened as France went on the attack at 0-0 Credit: BBC
And the Paraguayans targeted Mbappe with some heavy treatment throughout.
Towards the end of the first half, though, he was left writhing on the floor in pain.
Mbappe sprinted upfield to join the France attack but was cynically taken out by Matias Galarza off the ball.
Galarza swung an arm at his opponent and caught him as Mbappe fell down clutching his front.
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Replays suggested he took the hit on the hand or torso but was clearly fed up with the Paraguayan antics.
And Joe Hart feels Galarza could easily have been sent off.
On the BBC World Cup coverage, Mark Chapman said: “That’s a booking. I know Mbappe overreacted but he has chopped him.”
But Hart replied: “That could easily be a red card.
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“I’m not saying I want it to be but he’s gone out of his way to assault him as he tried to charge through.”
Earlier on, Mbappe reacted to being dragged down by shoving Andres Cubas, sparking a mass brawl.
And the Paraguayan housery continued into the second half with Juan Jose Caceres taking a kick out at Mbappe.
But Mbappe blocked out the noise to put France in front with a 70th-minute penalty.
In injury time, Galarza’s flailing arm caught Jules Kounde in the face, angering the French bench again.
Mbappe was at the centre of a bust-up in the first half Credit: Reuters
He made no mistake from the penalty spot Credit: Reuters
It was awarded after a VAR check because the referee missed a blatant trip on Desire Doue.
Gustavo Velazquez tried his best to scuff up the penalty spot but Mbappe would not be distracted from scoring his 19th World Cup to move within one of Lionel Messi.
And crucially, that was the difference as France progressed unscathed.
