Barcola backs France's attack to break down defensive Paraguay

Bradley Barcola speaks to the press

France are aware they ⁠will need to break through a compact defence when they meet Paraguay ‌in their World Cup last-16 match on Saturday, ‌but they can do it ‌with their attacking trio enjoying their football ‌at the tournament, France forward Bradley Barcola said ‌on Thursday.

Les Bleus have been impressive so far, winning all four matches, ‌scoring 13 goals and conceding two.0Captain Kylian ‌Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Barcola have netted 12 ​of them.

"I enjoy immensely playing like that," Barcola told a ​press conference. "We pass, attack and defend together. These are great players and that ⁠is why it ​works so well. It is a joy to play together."

Win probability

They eased into the last 16 with a confidence-boosting ‌3-0 victory over Sweden on Tuesday, while the South Americans stunned four-times champions Germany 4-3 on penalties.

"We know it will be complicated," Barcola said of Paraguay's deep defending. "We have to find alternatives and we will do that. I hope it keeps working well for us ‌until the end."

Temperatures on Saturday ​in Philadelphia are expected to top ‌36 degrees Celsius but Barcola said that while it would drain them a bit more, the team had got used to the warm weather ⁠during the ⁠weeks-long tournament in ‌North America.