Ibrahimovic: The referee stole Paraguay's dream

Retired Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic made some striking remarks following France's qualification for the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, after their hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay in a match marked by a tense atmosphere and a penalty kick that sparked widespread controversy among fans and analysts. Ibrahimovic praised the way the French players handled the provocations they faced throughout the match, considering their composure a key factor in "Les Bleus'" victory. Speaking to Fox Sports, Zlatan said, "The French team showed great character and composure. The players were subjected to numerous provocations, but they remained calm and smiled, and that was the best possible response." He added with his characteristic wit, "If I had played in that match, I would have received four or five red cards, and maybe one of the opponents would have ended up in the hospital. Provocation is part of football, but France was smart and didn't fall into the trap." In contrast, Zlatan did not hide his objection to the penalty that gave France the winning goal, emphasizing that major matches should be decided by the players' abilities, not by controversial refereeing decisions. He said, "Is a match of this magnitude decided by a penalty kick like that? World Cup matches should be decided by the brilliance of the stars, not by the referee's whistle or VAR." He pointed out that Paraguay put on a great defensive performance, holding off the French attack for long periods, before a refereeing decision turned the tide and granted France passage. Ibrahimovic believes that the refereeing controversy overshadowed the discussion of the match's technical aspects, which is unbecoming of a tournament the size of the World Cup. He explained, "In the World Cup, historic moments should be created by the players' touches, not by controversial decisions. When the referee and VAR become the focus of discussion, it means that football was not the true hero of the show." The Swedish star concluded his remarks by emphasizing that football can be cruel, as fans will only remember the team that qualified, while the great sacrifices made by the Paraguayan team throughout the 90 minutes will be forgotten. He stressed that elimination in a tournament the size of the World Cup should be a result of the opponent's superiority on the field, and not because of a refereeing decision that will remain controversial for a long time.