World Cup LIVE: Kylian Mbappe has last laugh after Paraguay bully tactics

World Cup LIVE: Kylian Mbappe has last laugh after Paraguay bully tactics The World Cup continues to churn out headlines on and off the pitch as England prepare themselves to face Mexico in the last‑16. Welcome to The Mirror's World Cup live blog with England currently preparing to face Mexico in a last-16 tie. The team have been surrounded by a ring of steel as crowds turned out in Mexico City to greet their arrival at their pre-match hotel. Hundreds of riot police have been deployed and roads sealed off The build-up has been dominated by talk of the atmosphere, altitude and kick-off time in Mexico City, where the Azteca Stadium is 2,240m above seal-level. Confusion took hold over the match being pushed forward due to forecasted thunderstorms. There was anger from both camps at such a suggestion, with FIFA subsequently completing a U-turn on the proposal. In today's action, the round of 16 began with Canada losing 3-0 against Morocco at the Houston Stadium. Paraguay and France are now in action at the Philadelphia Stadium, in Pennsylvania. Stay tuned as Mirror Football brings you all of the latest World Cup news and reaction. Key Events Thanks for following our World Cup coverage throughout the day. We'll be back tomorrow as the round of 16 continues. See you then! Goal! star Kuno Becker, 48, admitted his loyalties were divided. The Mexican actor, who played Santiago Munez in the hit movie series from 2005 to 2009 charting an illegal immigrant's rise to soccer super stardom, told Ladbrokes: "I would love for Mexico to win but there's so much emotional attachment for me when it comes to England. You know, the fact we spent so much time there, I got to learn about the culture, and what football means to those people. I have to root for them also just because of the movies. That country is so close to my heart. "This game is a really tough one for me to pick a winner for. I think Mexico are going to fight until the death. I think it’s going to be 1-1, it’ll go to penalties, and the tension is going to go through the roof. It’s at Estadio Azteca, and the energy there is going to be insane. This is a historic moment for the people of Mexico. "I also think the altitude is going to play a part in the game, and it’s going to be another challenge for England. So England obviously have the better team, but when you throw in the atmosphere inside that stadium, and the altitude, I think that levels things out a little. "Both countries need this win. Mexico has gone through so much, as has England, and we need that escape. It’s going to be a great game. Every Mexican player is going to be giving 500%. They’re going to go out there and give everything, for every second. The crowd are going to make it so difficult for England." Our reporter Ryan Taylor in Mexico, writes: Mexico frontman Raul Jimenez is determined to extend his phenomenal goalscoring record against Jordan Pickford. The 35-year-old has netted past the England No.1 more times (six) than any other goalkeeper in his career.He claims a seventh or even eighth strike at the Azteca Stadium on Sunday (local) would be welcomed. Jimenez said of Pickford: "If you ask him , whether it’s an advantage to know me, he might say so."He’s a great goalkeeper, there’s a reason he’s the starting goalkeeper for the England national team; he’s always at a high level. I've scored against him on several occasions and I want to keep increasing that tally. Hopefully, it can continue in this match."Jimenez has been playing in England since he moved to Wolves in the summer of 2018. He has now re-joined the Black Country club following three excellent seasons with Fulham.The veteran continued: "It’s a special match because I’ve spent more than half my career playing in England. Messages? No, because I know them, but we’re not exactly friends."I’ve exchanged jerseys with some of them, but that’s it. It’s a match where we have to be focused from start to finish, as we’ve been showing in this World Cup." Our reporter Jerry Lawton in Mexico, writes: England will go into their World Cup showdown with Mexico backed by an unlikely secret army of supporters - from Germany. Though traditional football rivals, many Germans have switched their allegiance to the Three Lions since their own national team was booted out of the tournament by Paraguay last week.They will now be cheering on England in tomorrow’s early hours epic at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City for a place in the quarter-finals. The unlikely alliance between two of football’s staunchest rivals is down to a hat-trick of mutual loves for super striker Harry Kane, Lions’ boss Thomas Tuchel - and darts.Captain Fantastic Kane has become a German football God since signing for Bayern Munich three years ago. He has banged in 98 goals in 94 games, finished top scorer in three successive seasons and helped the club win back-to-back Bundesliga titles and two cups. But the Germans are not just wild about Harry for his football. They love the way the 32-year-old star from Leytonstone, east London, has embraced their culture.He has donned traditional lederhosen - brown leather shorts - to celebrate titles, munched white sausage Weisswurst and supped the nation’s legendary beer. The Germans also love the fact England has turned to a Bavarian boss to try and win the World Cup.Tuchel, 52, won the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich and German cup with Borussia Dortmund before taking over as Three Lions’ coach - and admitted at the World Cup he still supports his homeland despite managing England.The two nations also share a mutual obsession with one of the world’s fastest growing sports - darts. After a record eight Germans qualified for the world championship at London’s Ally Pally in January Deutschland fans are set to dominate the crowd when it moves to a bigger new venue next year. Officials were so impressed with our front page warning of the forthcoming fan invasion - in German - they have posted it on the wall of their London Embassy. We were singled out for praise by officials and members of the German press for helping unite the nations at a reception earlier this year. A spokesman for the German embassy in London told the Daily Star Sunday England could rely on their support to win the World Cup. They said: “While I can't speak for the whole of Germany one thing is clear - here at the German Embassy in London we're now rooting for England. "The cherry on the Blackforest Gateau will be if honorary Bavarian Harry Kane scores the winning goal to clinch it for the Three Lions."A German broadcaster said: "The level of support for England here is huge. Harry Kane is a German legend. To Bayern Munich fans he is a God. England are many Germans’ second team and now we are out they can rely on whole-hearted backing. Hopefully the players will hear the cheers all the way from the Marienplatz."England's sole World Cup triumph came at Wembley in 1966 with a 4-2 extra-time victory over West Germany. Should the Three Lions lift the famous trophy for the first time since the broadcast exec admitted many would get a kick out of the irony the only way England could end 60 years of hurt was with a German in charge."Let's face it if Germany can't win we might as well have a German manager lift the World Cup," they said. We Germans…we know how to get results. You may have Luke Littler in the darts but we’ve got Thomas Tuchel. Just maybe der fußball kommt nach hause (football's coming home)." Micah Richards also had his say on BBC: Paraguay are better than that. Defensively, they were so good and they didn't ned to get into these antics. It was embarrassing to see.They tried to draw France into that - and they nearly did - but in the end they behaved in the right fashion. Speaking on BBC after the match, Thomas Hitzlsperger criticised Paraguay's behaviour. He said: I had a lot of respect for them going into the game. I'm glad my vocabulary in English is not that good because Joe just said 'disgraceful' - I've got various other words I would use for them in German but I don't have them in English. Because I have little to no respect anymore for this Paraguay team; the way they behaved on the penalty incident. If you're from Paraguay, you probably like that team: they're like warriors. If you're a supporter of the French team or neutral, you can't have any respect anymore for the way they behaved. This is not just disgraceful, this is even worse. That's why I totally agree, the way Kylian Mbappe and the entire team have controlled themselves - that they don't walk off the pitch injured, to me is almost a miracle. And the referee, to finish this off - it's probably the worst performance I've seen in this tournament. Meanwhile, Joe Hart added: They've been caught up in the emotion tonight, no doubt about it. They've probably made a pact before the game, 'whatever it takes, we're going to get through this game'. But they've gone way too far. But the referee could have put the lid on that. A modern-day referee could have early on, two or three occasions, stopped any of that. But he's let it go. And Paraguay were always going to push the boundaries. France's celebrations were almost marred by unsavoury scenes following their World Cup win over Paraguay. The South American side expressed their anger after being knocked out of the competition, directing their fury at the officials and Les Bleus as tensions boiled over in roasting Philadelphia. Kylian Mbappe's penalty separated the sides in a match that had been niggly. Paraguay escaped bookings but looked to disrupt player with aggressive challenges to the frustration of the France team. Analysing the match, pundit Joe Hart was disgusted by the behaviour of Paraguay's players throughout the match, and impressed that Mbappe was able to keep his cool after being niggled at throughout the game. Our reporter Thomas Bristow writes: If one thing's clear from this World Cup, it's that it's been a huge hit. The Round of 16 games are now underway. Host nation Canada has already fallen to Morocco while France vs Paraguay is next in Philadelphia. And it's a special day at the usually known Lincoln Financial Field – it's July 4. The United States' 250th birthday. As we enter the business end of the tournament, all but two Round of 16 games will take place in the United States - those other two are in Mexico City and Vancouver. All games from the quarterfinals onwards will be in the US alone.It's been a superb tournament so far, with the atmosphere rife throughout the United States and fans pouring in. Norway took over Times Square, Scotland fans blew Boston away, and one South Korea fan went viral over his reaction to tasting Texas BBQ for the first time.But in a country run by Donald Trump, how have Americans found the tournament? Spoiler: They've loved it. The first fan I spoke to outside the Philadelphia stadium was wearing dungarees with USA's colors: "I think it's been great. I've only watched it on TV so far, this will be my first entry in. But it seems awesome so far, all the videos of the fans in different places has been sweet. Excited to see what's inside."Wearing a USA dress and with little flags painted on her cheeks, this fan said, "I think it's been awesome to see all the different countries come together, have a lot of fun, and watch the beautiful game."The next person I spoke to had a tattoo of the Liberty Bell on his leg and the Philadelphia Eagles eagle on his arm. He was also wearing a USA tie. "So far, so good," he said. "This is my first-ever World Cup game. I'm excited. We've been watching the games since it's started. Just happy to be here, you know; 250, America's birthday, World Cup, it's going on - go World!"One man, who was tailgating with his family was quite emphatic about how the World Cup had brought fans from different cultures and countries together. He said, "Well we've been watching pretty much every game and it's been an exciting World Cup. I think it's been the best one ever."I'm a big soccer guy, we're a big soccer family, we've been involved in soccer our whole lives. It's been well run. The fans have been absolutely insane, coming from other countries and I just feel like everybody's been unified."It's been a long time. There's just been a great crowd, with politics and everything going on, but it just feels great to have the World Cup here and have everyone coming together and having a great time. The World Cup, I think, is phenomenal."Another man, with a well-protected hat and a 'U.S. Soccer' T-shirt, said, "This is my first trip here and this has been excellent. It's really well laid out, no issues getting here, great time." It's full‑time, and France will face Morocco in the quarter‑finals. Paraguay didn't go down without a fight, though - and several yellow cards could have been shown. They spent much of the match trying to wind up the French players. Not a single Paraguay player was booked. France 1-0 Paraguay. Mbappe thought he’d put the game to bed, but Gill denies him twice with a pair of big saves to keep Paraguay alive. Paraguay still haven't produced a shot on target, and we’re down to the final three minutes plus stoppage time. They need a goal to force extra‑time. Our reporter Ryan Taylor in Mexico writes: Reece James missed England's final training session before their World Cup Last 16 clash vs Mexico. He was the only absentee from the group as the other 25 players were all on the grass.Jarell Quansah was back following the ankle problem he sustained against Panama. The squad were in great spirits with Ezri Konsa the brunt of the jokes after he was nutmegged during rondo. Tantashev has shown only one yellow card so far, even with Paraguay's attempts to wind up France. The little shoves and nudges haven't crossed the threshold for a booking. Tantashev points to the spot, ruling that Doue was tripped. Paraguay try everything to delay the kick - even scuffing up the penalty spot - but Mbappe stays ice‑cold and sends Gill the wrong way. The France bench is relieved! Hang on - we might have a penalty here. Doue goes down in the box, but referee Ilgiz Tantashev waves away the appeals. VAR has now recommended an on‑field review. The Paris Saint‑Germain star is involved straight away, cutting inside and appearing to be fouled - but the referee waves him up. A foul should have been awarded. Barcola makes way for Desire Doue, who will look to make an impact. We're just past the hour mark and still waiting for the first goal. Former Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger told BBC: France are not moving the ball quick enough and they need to sharpen up. It is easy to defend. Paraguay are not pleasant to watch but there is no way through. They need to mix it up; put the ball in the box and create chaos. They don't want to do that so they stay in possession. France continue pushing for the opener and have taken full advantage of Paraguay switching off. Manu Kone curls one towards the top corner, but Orlando Gill reacts brilliantly and gets a strong hand to it. We're back underway for the second half. Our reporter Thomas Bristrow says: As with how they were against Germany, Paraguay are playing tough. There's a real risk things could boil over. When Barcola was booked earlier in the game, the entire Paraguayan bench rose, gesticulating wildly at the referee for a yellow card.Then Mbappe just shoved Cubas sparking a mini skirmish. It ended quickly with no cards issued. But minutes later Mbappe is on the ground after taking an arm to the face. This is how it's going to be for France and they'll need to stay patient and calm. Paraguay know the way to win this game is take it all the way again and they'll do whatever they can in the process. It's half-time at the Philadelphia Stadium after three minutes of added time. This half has unfolded exactly as Paraguay would have hoped - France dominating the ball, but Paraguay standing firm and dealing with the pressure well. Mbappe shows his frustration after being fouled. He gives Andres Cubas a shove in the chest, the referee steps in to calm things down, and both sets of players pile in but no cards are shown. France have had 80% of possession so far but are still searching for the opener. Our reporter Andy Lines, writes: The England team has just left for training amid extraordinary security. The players climbed aboard their coach and left the team hotel. But their armed escort was huge. Heavily armed military police gave the bus an escort through the busy Mexican streets. The national guards were in several separate military vehicles ahead and behind the bus.There were 500 or so Mexican supporters waiting outside the hotel. There were boos and cheers but the atmosphere was generally very god natured.Some fans started a “Mexico, Mexico, Mexico” chant. There were 100s of riot police. They used barriers to control the crowd. Earlier sniffer dogs had been taken aboard to check for any explosives. Former England defender Stephen Warnock has praised Paraguay's shape in dealing with France’s pressure. He said: Paraguay will be absolutely delighted. They are very well organised and their shape is good.There is no moaning or complaining when they give the ball away; just acceptance that this is going to be an extremely difficult game of football. Bradley Barcola becomes the first player booked in the match. But I’m not convinced the swipe on Juan Jose Caceres warranted a yellow - there was barely any contact. Didier Deschamps is on course to make history if France reach the quarter‑finals. He could become the first coach ever to win 10 World Cup knockout matches. As expected, France are in full control, piling relentless pressure on Paraguay. Every player is camped in the Paraguay half as they probe for a way through this defence. France get us underway in Philly. Michael Olise immediately pings a pass straight out of play deep in the Paraguay half. Teams are out on the pitch and ready for the national anthem. Kick‑off next.