Deschamps fears for Mbappé after Paraguay clash, hires bodyguards

After a bruising round‑of‑16 clash in Philadelphia, French coach Didier Deschamps enlisted bodyguards to protect Kylian Mbappé, warning that Paraguayan players would ‘cut him down’, while Paraguay boss Gustavo Alfaro denied any misconduct and rejected his staff insulted Deschamps’ late mother. Deschamps criticised Paraguay’s hard play after the round‑of‑16 match in Philadelphia, saying the insults from the bench were unacceptable. "I will not criticize Paraguay; each team plays as it wishes, although I would have preferred not to see the insults on the opponent’s bench, especially some of them," he said. Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro responded by saying he was unaware of any wrongdoing and that his first action after the game was to locate Didier Deschamps to congratulate him and wish France success in their quest for the world title. "The first thing I did right after the match was to look for Didier to congratulate him and wish them success in their hunt for the world title," Alfaro told .

French media lambaste Paraguay after gritty World Cup clash

Alfaro acknowledged that there was ‘friction and collisions’ during the Philadelphia duel but argued it was part of football’s nature, stressing that his side did not foster hostility. "It belongs to football, it's the nature of football. We did not foster hostility and we did nothing unusual.. In the heat of the battle things may have happened, words may have been exchanged, but I asked the players not to react, to stay calm. After the match I met the French players to congratulate them on their performances at this World Cup and wish them success," he explained. He also categorically denied that members of his staff referenced the death of Deschamps’ mother, stating, "No, no, no, no. You cannot sink that low in football. I admire and respect Didier Deschamps enormously… I have not heard anything like that."

Mbappé’s penalty lifts France past Paraguay in Philadelphia heat

Deschamps, fearing for Kylian Mbappé’s safety, told reporters he asked the two biggest French players to stand around Mbappé at the end of the match because “they would cut him down,” and he added that the opponents used “all tricks from the book.” The exchange underscores how quickly on‑field tensions can spill into off‑field security concerns, with Deschamps’ protective measures reflecting heightened vigilance, while Alfaro’s denials highlight the deepening dispute between the two national teams.