Zlatan Praises France's Composure Against Paraguay
Zlatan Ibrahimović praised France for maintaining composure during their 1-0 World Cup victory over Paraguay, who employed aggressive tactics and provocations throughout the match.
Zlatan Ibrahimović, a former Swedish national team striker, has praised the French national team for their patience in enduring the provocations and unsporting behavior of Paraguay's players.
France narrowly defeated Paraguay 1-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match. During the game, Paraguay faced heavy criticism for attempting to employ tactical tricks, but the French team refused to be drawn into their game and even responded with smiles.
Following the match, Zlatan Ibrahimović shared his thoughts and expressed admiration for France, saying:
"It was a huge challenge for them today. It's mostly about keeping your head and not getting drawn in by the provocations, trying to stay calm and composed, not losing your balance by falling for their tricks that they were pulling off.
It's difficult work. If it were me, I would have gotten four red cards from this match and probably would have sent someone off too. But that's what happened. I prefer to play the real game. I don't like when someone comes to provoke you—it's part of the game but it's not part of the game.
But France showed composure. They stayed relaxed. They did what they needed to do. They smiled back at them. That's the best way to respond—smile, score goals, win the match, go to the fans and celebrate. That's the best way to respond."
