Paraguay's coach Gustavo Alfaro claimed his team 'fought like lions' despite their 1-0 World Cup defeat to France in the last-16 tie.The match, held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, saw Kylian Mbappé score a 70th-minute penalty to secure France's quarter-final spot against Morocco.Alfaro highlighted the team's 16-year wait to return to the World Cup, contrasting it with Mbappé's rapid rise to World Cup glory.The South American nation, making their first World Cup appearance since 2010, aimed to replicate their 2010 quarter-final run.

Alfaro criticized France's verbal insults but praised his players' resilience, noting their only knockout-stage wins in World Cup history have come via penalties.The loss left Paraguay's squad in tears, with Alfaro expressing pride in their competitive effort despite the heartbreak.