Paraguay vs France Tips: Best Bets, Odds & Bet Builder Tip

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France head into their Round of 16 meeting with Paraguay as one of the favourites to lift the World Cup, having impressed throughout the group stage with their attacking firepower. Kylian Mbappé has once again led the charge, while Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise have provided pace and creativity from the flanks, making Les Bleus one of the tournament's most dangerous attacking sides.

Paraguay, meanwhile, have exceeded expectations to reach the knockout stages. Built on defensive organisation, physicality and discipline, they have shown they can frustrate stronger opponents and remain dangerous on the counter-attack and from set-pieces. Their resilience has been a defining feature of their campaign, but they now face their toughest challenge yet.

France are expected to dominate possession and create the better chances, with their superior quality in the final third making them deserved favourites to progress. Paraguay have the defensive structure to make life difficult, but if France perform to their usual level, they should have enough to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

Paraguay vs France Best Betting Tip

Recommended Bet: Kylian Mbappe Over 2.5 Shots On Target
Best Odds: 11/10 (PricedUp)
Advised Stake: 1.5pts

Kylian Mbappé has been the focal point of France's attack throughout this World Cup, and backing him to register over 2.5 shots on target is strongly supported by both his recent form and underlying numbers. The France captain has cleared this line in three of his last four World Cup appearances, consistently producing the volume of attempts expected from one of the world's most dangerous forwards.

He was unfortunate not to land this selection against Norway. Mbappé finished with two shots on target, but struck the post in the opening minutes of the match, with that effort failing to count as an effort on target. On another day, he comfortably clears the line, highlighting just how close he came despite still posing a constant threat.

His longer-term numbers are equally impressive. Mbappé's shots-on-target totals across his last 5 World Cup starts for France read 4, 2, 3, 4, 3, giving him an outstanding average of 3.2 shots on target per game. Mbappe's Shot on Target count for France in his last 10 Competitive Matches: 4, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3 giving him an average of 3.1 shots on target/90 mins. Those figures underline his remarkable consistency in forcing opposition goalkeepers into action and show that this line is one he regularly threatens to exceed.

France's attacking style only strengthens the case. Didier Deschamps' side are built around Mbappé's pace, movement and finishing ability, constantly looking to isolate him in one-on-one situations and create shooting opportunities both in transition and sustained attacks. Whether attacking from the left, cutting inside onto his stronger right foot or bursting through the middle, Mbappé is rarely short of chances.

Against a Paraguay side expected to spend long periods defending deep, France should dominate possession and territory, allowing Mbappé to rack up another high shot volume. He is also chasing the Golden Boot, providing additional motivation to keep firing whenever an opportunity presents itself. Given his exceptional recent record, his average of 2.6 shots on target per competitive start and France's expected dominance, backing Mbappé to register at least three shots on target represents one of the standout player selections in this Round of 16 clash.

Paraguay vs France Bet Builder Tip

Our Bet Builder Tip for Paraguay vs France consists of the following legs:

• No - Both Teams To Score
• Kylian Mbappe - Anytime Goalscorer
• Ousmane Dembele - To Score Or Assist
• Julio Enciso - Over 1.5 Shots

Best available odds of 9/1 at BetMGM UK while writing.

No – Both Teams To Score

France have looked one of the most complete teams in the tournament, combining an elite attack with an equally impressive defensive record. Les Bleus have kept six clean sheets in their last nine competitive internationals, rarely allowing opponents clear-cut opportunities.

With the quality they possess going forward, France are expected to dictate the game from the outset and, if they establish an early lead, continue controlling possession rather than allowing Paraguay back into the contest. Paraguay are capable of defending resolutely, but creating chances against this French back line will be an entirely different challenge, making No – Both Teams To Score an attractive selection.

Kylian Mbappé – Anytime Goalscorer

Kylian Mbappé continues to set the standard for France in major tournaments and arrives in outstanding goalscoring form. The captain has found the net in nine of his last 10 international appearances and already has six goals at this World Cup, once again proving why he is one of the most feared forwards in world football.

World Cups have consistently brought the very best out of Mbappé, and with the Golden Boot firmly in his sights, expect him to keep attacking at every opportunity. Sitting just two goals shy of last tournament's tally while battling Lionel Messi for the tournament's top scorer award, he has every incentive to add to his remarkable record.

Ousmane Dembélé – To Score Or Assist

Ousmane Dembélé has hit top form at exactly the right time for France. The reigning Ballon d'Or winner has registered a goal contribution in each of his last three appearances, showing the confidence and decisiveness that have made him such a dangerous attacking weapon. After a quiet start to the World Cup, Dembélé announced himself in spectacular fashion with a hat-trick against Norway, and he now looks fully settled in Didier Deschamps' attacking system.

Playing alongside Mbappé, Michael Olise and France's wealth of attacking talent, Dembélé should have plenty of opportunities to either find the net himself or create chances for his teammates.

Julio Enciso – Over 1.5 Shots

Julio Enciso remains Paraguay's brightest attacking talent and will be their biggest threat whenever they break forward. He has cleared over 1.5 shots in six of his last eight appearances, underlining how heavily Paraguay rely on him in the final third. His shot totals across his last five matches read 3, 2, 1, 2 and 3, with those performances coming against quality opposition including Germany and Morocco.

Even if Paraguay spend much of the match defending, Enciso is the player most likely to carry the ball forward and test the French defence from distance or on the counter. Two shots is a realistic target given his recent volume and central role in Paraguay's attack.

Paraguay vs France Player Prop Bet

Recommended Bet: Juan Caceres - Over 1.5 Fouls Committed
Best Odds: 11/10 (Ladbrokes)
Advised Stake: 1pt

Juan Cáceres is likely to have one of the busiest defensive assignments of any Paraguay player, making over 1.5 fouls committed a well-supported selection. The right-back has committed 1, 2, 2 and 3 fouls across Paraguay's four World Cup matches, clearing this line in three of those four games. His longer-term record is even more consistent, with his foul totals in his last 10 competitive appearances reading 1, 2, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1 and 2, surpassing the mark in eight of those 10 matches.

The matchup also plays heavily in this bet's favour. Cáceres is expected to spend much of the evening dealing with Michael Olise, whose close control and direct running regularly draw defenders into committing fouls. Olise has won 1, 2, 1 and 2 fouls in France's four World Cup matches, consistently causing problems for opposing full-backs.

France's attacking style only strengthens the case further. Les Bleus have won 10, 9, 8 and 9 fouls across their four World Cup fixtures, highlighting how frequently their pace and movement force opponents into late challenges. With Olise, Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé constantly driving at defenders, Cáceres is likely to spend long periods under pressure and may have little choice but to break up play. Given both his own foul numbers and France's ability to draw contact, this line looks one of the stronger player props in the match.

Paraguay vs France Predicted Lineups

Paraguay (4-2-3-1): Fernández; Cáceres, Balbuena, Alderete, Espínola; Cubas, Villasanti; Almirón, Enciso, Galarza; Sanabria.

France (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernández; Tchouaméni, Camavinga; Olise, Dembélé, Mbappé; Kolo Muani.

Paraguay vs France Match Prediction

France head into this Round of 16 tie as deserved favourites after another impressive group-stage campaign. Didier Deschamps' side have combined defensive solidity with devastating attacking quality, scoring freely while conceding very few chances. Kylian Mbappé has once again been the standout performer, with Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise and the supporting cast giving Les Bleus one of the most dangerous forward lines left in the tournament.

Paraguay deserve enormous credit for reaching the knockout stages. Their disciplined defensive structure and physical approach have frustrated several opponents, while Julio Enciso and Miguel Almirón provide genuine pace on the counter-attack. However, sustaining that level of defensive concentration for 90 minutes against France is an entirely different challenge.

Expect Paraguay to defend deep and remain compact, attempting to limit space between the lines while looking to spring forward on the break whenever possession is regained. France, meanwhile, should dominate both possession and territory, patiently moving the ball until gaps begin to appear. If Mbappé and Dembélé find space in one-on-one situations, Paraguay could quickly come under sustained pressure.

The South Americans have the organisation to make France work for their opportunities, particularly in the opening stages, but the gulf in attacking quality should eventually tell. France's ability to create chances from multiple areas of the pitch, coupled with their defensive consistency, makes them strong favourites to progress into the quarter-finals.

Match Prediction: Paraguay 0-3 France.