Tchouaméni out as Paraguay face France in the last 16

Tchouaméni out, France lose their midfield anchor

Aurélien Tchouaméni will miss the round of 16 match against Paraguay on Saturday. Thigh injury (1). The French midfielder is the engine that makes Deschamps' side tick, and he is done for this World Cup. Manu Koné or Adrien Rabiot will step in (1). Your team just caught a break.

The man who buried Germany

José Canale scored the winning penalty against Germany and became a national hero overnight. His curls have a story behind them, they are a promise to his partner, a symbol of a love that has carried him through every step of his career (2). Lanús offered to print his name for free on replica shirts. That is what a penalty in a World Cup shootout does.

Gill sold everything. Now he faces France.

Orlando Gill saved two penalties against Germany. What fans may not know: years ago, he sold his entire football kit, U20 shirt, training gear, boots, to support his family and his prematurely born son, Lautaro (3). "He sold literally everything," his wife Melissa Avalos said (3). On Saturday he faces Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, and Ousmane Dembélé.

Fan reactions

The World Cup subreddit is buzzing, and Paraguay's penalty shootout against Germany is a big reason why. One fan called this tournament "a historical World Cup" where every knockout match "might just make someone pass away" link. The tension from the Germany match is still echoing, and the France thread is already filling up ahead of kickoff.