France has dealt a massive blow ahead of their FIFA World Cup Round of 16 showdown against Paraguay which is slated to be played on July 5.
Aurelien Tchouameni ruled out of France vs Paraguay clash
According to a report by French daily L'Equipe, cited by Reuters, Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni has been ruled out of the crucial knockout clash due to a thigh injury. While the 26-year-old has yet to register a goal or an assist in the tournament, he has been a foundational piece of the squad, starting three of Les Bleus' four matches so far.
The injury interrupts what has been a flawless World Cup campaign for the French team. Up to this point, France has looked utterly dominant, sweeping their three group-stage matches before comfortably easing past Sweden in the Round of 32. While the news of Tchouaméni's absence has sent ripples through the fanbase, the French Football Federation (FFF) has yet to release an official statement regarding the severity of his injury or his expected timeline for a return.
ALSO READ: Lionel Messi breaks Pelé's long-standing FIFA World Cup record as Argentina beat Cape Verde
All eyes on Kylian Mbappe
Meanwhile, a masterclass from Kylian Mbappe propelled France to a dominant 3-0 victory over Sweden at the New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium). By finding the back of the net in both the 45th and 74th minutes, the talismanic captain did more than just secure a quarterfinal berth; he etched his name deeper into football folklore. Entering the match tied with Brazilian legend Ronaldo and pre-war icon Leonidas at eight career knockout stage goals, Mbappe's clinical double pushed his tally to 10, making him the most prolific knockout-stage scorer in tournament history.
The Real Madrid forward's ability to peak when the stakes are highest has become the hallmark of his international career. These milestone strikes also ignited his pursuit of individual tournament honors, bringing him to six goals for the current campaign—just one behind Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. Furthermore, the brace boosted his overall World Cup tally to an astonishing 18 goals in a mere 18 matches. At just 26 years old, he now sits only two goals shy of Messi's all-time record of 20 World Cup goals, an incredible feat considering the Argentine legend required 29 appearances to reach that mark.