Paraguayan goalkeeper throws ball at Mbappé after handshake refusal
Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill tossed the match ball at France's Kylian Mbappé following a denied handshake after the World Cup knockout match, later explaining his reaction.
France advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals after Kylian Mbappé converted a 70th-minute penalty in Philadelphia. The match was marked by physical play, with Paraguay committing several fouls on the French captain while avoiding any bookings.
After the final whistle, Gill approached Mbappé to offer a handshake, but the forward turned away. Gill then threw the match ball at Mbappé's back, prompting a confrontation involving players and coaching staff from both teams.
"I gave him my hand to congratulate him but he ignored me," Gill said, as quoted by a news outlet. "Obviously I entered a heated moment, but that's all I did. After that, I calmed down. I just wanted to congratulate them. The truth is, they've had an excellent campaign as they're the favorites to be world champions."
Gill added that Paraguay intended to play hard from the start and defended the team's overall conduct despite the incident.
"From the very first moment, we set out to make our presence felt on the pitch – to play hard. If the ball gets through, the man doesn't. And, honestly, I think the team handled itself well," he said.