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SportsParaguay defender Canale: France and Germany 'didn't like contact'
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Paraguay defender José Canale, who came on as a substitute in the 2026 World Cup round of 16 match against France, told ESPN that the French team, like Germany, did not like engaging in physical duels. The match, played on July 4 in Philadelphia, saw France win 1-0 via a penalty by captain Kylian Mbappé. Canale, a Lanus defender, stated that South American football is 'more difficult' than European football, adding that pushing French or German players slightly was enough to disrupt their game. The article also notes Paraguay's aggressive tactics, including fouls and provocations, which frustrated the French team. The victory advanced France to the quarterfinals.
Source report
Interviewed Sunday by ESPN, Paraguay defender José Canale claimed that both France and Germany—teams his side faced in the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup—were reluctant to engage in physical duels.
Canale, who came on as a substitute against the French team in the round of 16, said Didier Deschamps' players shared a similar trait with the Germans.
"The Germans didn't like contact, and neither did the French," the Lanus defender, who just turned 30, told ESPN. "You just had to push them a little to throw them off their game."
A Hard-Fought Victory for France
Nearly a month has passed since the France-Paraguay round of 16 clash on July 4 in Philadelphia. The Blues—dominant in the group stage and impressive in a 3-0 win over Sweden—struggled to advance to the quarterfinals against a tough Paraguayan side.
The French team long struggled against Paraguay, which, lacking the desire to win, multiplied fouls and provocations, hoping a French player—perhaps Kylian Mbappé—would lose his cool and see red. Ultimately, a penalty converted by the French captain in the 70th minute secured a 1-0 victory and a place in the quarterfinals.
A Different Perspective
While the Blues remember a hard-fought victory against a rough opponent, the Paraguayans see it differently. For Canale, South American football is "more difficult" than its European counterpart—a view supported, he argues, by the fact that anyone can beat anyone.
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Paraguay Defender José Canale Says France and Germany 'Didn't Like Contact' in 2026 World Cup