The Stadium Known As Philadelphia Stadium For The Duration Of The World Cup<\/a> is already 23 years old, so of course, it\u2019s time for a new one.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> With an hour to go until kick-off, temperatures here at the Philadelphia Stadium are nudging 100 degrees Fahrenheit. There are umbrellas up everywhere around pitchside to protect the cameras, but supporters in the stands are having to make do with fanning themselves as they do their best to stay cool in sweltering temperatures. Three sides of the ground, which effectively has no covering, are currently under direct sunlight.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.24 EDT<\/p>\n Lineups<\/p>\n France (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Digne, Saliba, Upamecano, Kound\u00e9; Kon\u00e9, Rabiot; Barcola, Olise, Demb\u00e9l\u00e9; Mbapp\u00e9<\/p>\n Subs: Risser, Samba, Gusto, L. Hern\u00e1ndez, T. Hern\u00e1ndez, Konat\u00e9, Lacroix, Kant\u00e9, Tchouam\u00e9ni, Za\u00efre-Emery, Akliouche, Cherki, Dou\u00e9, Mateta, Thuram<\/p>\n Paraguay (5-3-2): Gill; Alonso, Alderete, G\u00f3mez, Vel\u00e1zquez, C\u00e1ceres; Galarza, Cubas, G\u00f3mez; Enciso, Almir\u00f3n<\/p>\n Subs: Fern\u00e1ndez, Olveira, Balbuena, Canale, Maidana, Bobadilla, Ojeda, Romero Gamarra, Maur\u00edcio, Sosa, Arce, Sanabria, \u00c1valos, Pitta, Caballero<\/p>\n For France, Kon\u00e9 rotates in for Tchouam\u00e9ni, who was injured in training.<\/p>\n For Paraguay, the lineup is pretty close to the 5-3-2 they unveiled in the 0-0 draw with Australia but changed in a few places from the 4-4-2 that shocked Germany. Alderete returns as a third center back, which means there\u2019s no place for Bobadilla at center mid. G\u00f3mez returns from suspension at right mid, pushing Almir\u00f3n up front and pushing \u00c1valos to the bench.<\/p>\n Kylian Mbappe during the warm up in Philadelphia. Photograph: Charly Triballeau\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.18 EDT<\/p>\n Preamble<\/p>\n What\u2019s the biggest upset you can remember from a World Cup<\/a> knockout round?<\/p>\n Not the group stage. The record books are full of teams that lost their first games to an unheralded underdog but went on to reach the final.<\/p>\n But the knockout round? Morocco and Croatia have pulled off a few surprises in the last two World Cups. Host nations occasionally pull off a shocker.<\/p>\n If Paraguay<\/a> were to eliminate France today, that might raise the bar.<\/p>\n Weather can sometimes be a great equalizer, and it\u2019s currently 100 degrees. That\u2019s Fahrenheit, or else water would be boiling at midfield. In Celsius, that\u2019s 37.7778, but it\u2019s July 4, so we\u2019re using US degrees. Also, \u201c100\u201d has a nicer ring to it than \u201c37.7778.\u201d<\/p>\n So, ordinarily, you might say France<\/a> could win this game without breaking a sweat. That seems unlikely today, given the weather if not the opposition.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Didier Deschamps\u2019 players have been far and away the best team in the tournament so far. But he says Les Bleus won\u2019t be taking Paraguay<\/a> lightly today.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are not here by chance. Germany are a top side, and they have that South American DNA, which means they get stuck in,\u201d Deschamps said. \u201cAnd they have good players too. You can\u2019t just qualify for the last 16 of the World Cup<\/a> like that by chance.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The US are now one of only two-co-hosts left in the World Cup<\/a> after Canada went down to defeat to Morocco, who will face the winners of this game. You can pick over the Canada match report here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Beau will be here shortly. In the meantime, here\u2019s a brief guide today\u2019s game:<\/p>\n What to watch for<\/p>\n France might be unstoppable. Didier Deschamps\u2019 side have flattened every opponent they have faced at the 2026 World Cup<\/a> so far with their forward line of Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise scoring and creating goals for fun. Les Bleus are playing like favorites.<\/p>\n Paraguay, however, know what it takes to upset the odds having already knocked out Germany. The South Americans have never beaten France in four previous meetings spanning 68 years, but have a game plan that could make it difficult for the World Cup favorites to break them down.<\/p>\n Player to watch: Michael Olise, France<\/a> – By registering a brace of assists in the win over Sweden, Olise highlighted his importance to France as their creator-in-chief. He might be even better as a number 10 than a right winger.<\/p>\n![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Paul_Macinnes.png\")
Paul MacInnes<\/p>\n