Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro praised his players for their determination after their 1-0 defeat by France in the World Cup last 16, saying they had "fought like lions" despite their elimination.
Speaking after Saturday's match at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Alfaro said France had struggled to break down his side and only progressed through a penalty awarded after a VAR review.
"France couldn't find the answers, and it took a bit of individual skill and a penalty given by VAR to make the difference which their football had not been able to do," he said.
Kylian Mbappe converted the decisive penalty in the 70th minute to send France into the quarter-finals, where they will face Morocco.
Paraguay were playing at their first World Cup since 2010 and had hoped to equal their best-ever performance by reaching the quarter-finals.
The South American side adopted a physical approach in an attempt to unsettle their opponents, a tactic that appeared to frustrate Mbappe. France coach Didier Deschamps also accused Paraguay's players of directing verbal insults at his team during the match.
Alfaro defended his players' commitment, saying they had "fought like lions out on the pitch".
Reflecting on the contrasting careers of his team and France's star forward, he added: "It took us 16 years to get back to a World Cup, while Mbappe won the World Cup the first time he played in it, got to the final in his second and now is fighting to be the top scorer."
Paraguay's only victories in World Cup knockout matches remain penalty shoot-out successes, including a win over Germany in the last 32 in Boston.
"We worked so hard to get a different result, but I will leave here with the knowledge that we came to compete, and we did compete," Alfaro said.
He revealed that his players were in tears in the dressing room after the defeat but insisted the tournament had strengthened the squad.
"I have no doubt that this World Cup has made us all better, although I am sad to go out because I hoped we might go further," he said.
.jpg "Messi remains Golden Ball favourite, Mbappé leads scoreboard")
