Paraguay’s head coach Gustavo Alfaro declined to apologize following his team’s highly physical approach in their recent last-16 match against France. The South American side was noted for employing aggressive tactics including off-the-ball challenges and controversial conduct during the encounter, which concluded with their elimination from the tournament.

The controversy escalated at full-time when Paraguayan players surrounded the match officials, led by Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev and his assistants, to protest what they described as an unfair outcome. Alfaro, 63, spoke after the game and appeared to defend his team’s competitive spirit rather than express regret. He emphasized that Paraguay came to the tournament to compete against formidable opponents and noted the gulf in stature between his side and France, which has a history of World Cup success and includes Ballon d’Or winners.

“We competed in very difficult stages,” Alfaro stated, suggesting pride in his team’s efforts despite the loss. “I prefer to be eliminated by a team that played in a final and won the World Cup with Ballon d’Or winners against a team of very humble players like ourselves.”

Paraguay’s goalkeeper Orlando Gill, 26, also addressed the physical nature of their play, explaining that their team is accustomed to a more robust style and was attempting to impose that characteristic against a technically strong French squad. “We are not used to taking on the kind of football France play, what else can we do?” Gill said. “We are a tough, physical team and wanted to feel tough. It’s simple—if the ball passes us, the man doesn’t.”

Gill maintained that the team conducted themselves properly despite the physical intensity. The comments reflect a philosophy that prioritizes resilience and physicality as key components of Paraguay’s approach to international competition, even when facing world-class opposition. The incident underscores the tensions that can arise between teams with differing tactical styles in high-stakes matches.