Deschamps: Our main objective was qualification

France beat Paraguay 1-0 to reach the World Cup 2026 quarter-finals, and Didier Deschamps said the result mattered more than the performance.

The France coach described the last-16 tie as exactly the sort of match he expected against a side that stayed compact, disciplined and combative throughout.

Deschamps said Paraguay made space hard to find and forced France to wait for the decisive opening. He added that his players handled the pressure well, showing the mental strength and concentration needed to see the game out.

He also pointed to the heat, saying it affected both teams and drained energy on the pitch. France and Paraguay had to cope with the same conditions, he said, and adaptation was part of the contest.

France now move into the quarter-finals, but Deschamps stressed the job is not finished. He said the squad must recover quickly and prepare for what comes next, calling every match from here on a final.