Manager Gustavo Alfaro proud of Paraguay, 'cannot be objective' on penalty

PHILADELPHIA -- After Paraguay narrowly went out of the World Cup 1-0 to France on a penalty awarded following a VAR review on Saturday, Albirroja manager Gustavo Alfaro said he could not criticize the eventual decision of Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev.

Tantashev initially waved play on after France's Desire Doue went down under Diego Gomez's challenge but changed his mind after the referee was summoned to the VAR monitor.

"I saw it at the VAR screen when they were looking at it," Alfaro said through an interpreter. "I was behind the referee, and I cannot be objective.

"The referee has a first impression. He says that the player had thrown (himself) trying to generate contact. Then VAR ratifies that it is a penalty, according to them.

"I'm going to look at it more in depth. And when I am looking at the gameplay, of course, (Doue is) in the air, he's very skillful, and he can move in that small space.

"I believe the leg was there. It is very difficult to withdraw your leg. If you go toward the ball and find the leg, well, that would be a penalty. What can we do?"

Kylian Mbappe converted from the spot in the 70th minute for his 19th career World Cup goal and seventh of this tournament as Les Bleus reached the quarterfinals with the shutout victory in the round of 16.

France advance to meet Morocco next Thursday in Foxborough, Mass., in a rematch of the 2022 semifinal that ended in a 2-0 French victory.

In his pregame remarks Friday, Alfaro insisted what his squad achieved was already exceptional. His nation will likely agree; Paraguay's president Santiago Pena even declared Tuesday a national holiday after their shocking win on penalties over Germany in the round of 32 on Monday.

But Alfaro conceded the end of the tournament brought a conflict of emotions after coming so close against the two-time world champions.

"I leave the World Cup with peace of mind knowing that we played," Alfaro said. "I am sad because I wanted to go further, and defeat will never make you happy, of course.

"I do not like losing at anything. And as I was telling the team in the dressing room, if you want to be a winner, the first thing you have to do is learn how to lose."

With Alfaro's contract up at the end of the year, the 63-year-old Argentine who has managed the bulk of his career in his home nation's domestic league said he was unsure of his future. But he clearly holds a deep appreciation for his adopted country.

"Today I have open wounds. I'm bleeding. I cannot really reflect because I am overwhelmed right now. I think I need to wait for things to calm down," Alfarro said.

"Things need to calm down and we'll see what happens. I honestly do not know what I'll do professionally.

"For me, there's no better place than Paraguay. The country has opened up their doors, clubs have opened up their doors, the relationship I have with players, the relationship of gratitude I have with everyone."

--Ian Nicholas Quillen, Field Level Media