French Outright World Cup Odds Squeeze After Paraguay Win

France joined Morocco in the quarter-finals of the World Cup after a slender 1-0 win over Paraguay in an ill-tempered clash in Philadelphia.

The South Americans frustrated Les Bleus with a combination of deep defending and coordinated gamesmanship, but their resistance was broken in the 70th minute, when Kylian Mbappe put away a penalty after Desire Doue was brought down.

A tough test awaits them in the last eight, after Morocco dispatched co-hosts Canada with a comfortable 3-0 win in Houston.

An injury-time goal from Soufiane Rahimi and a Azzedine Ounahi brace ensured the Atlas Lions reached the quarter-finals for the second successive World Cup, but they will need to beat the 2018 winners if they’re to match their 2022 run to the semi-finals.

And following France’s win last night, the bookies have slashed their price to go on and lift the trophy for the second time in eight years.

PricedUp now have France as 6/4 outright World Cup favourites, comfortably ahead of second favourites Argentina at 4/1, although their price is likely to shorten should they beat Egypt in their last 16 clash on Tuesday.

But a disappointing performance against Cape Verde, coupled with France’s increasingly impressive displays, have seen Argentina lose momentum in the market, and despite a path that includes a semi-final against either Spain or Portugal, France will head into the last eight as clear favourites.

England, meanwhile, ahead of their meeting with Mexico at the Azteca early on Monday morning, are 11/1 to lift the trophy for the first time since 1966.

Sunday evening sees Brazil face tournament outsiders Norway, with Erling Haaland’s side as long as 40/1 to lift the trophy, with the Samba Boys trading at 12/1.