That Paraguay managed not to receive a yellow card until after the final whistle was, among many others, one of the more staggering statistics from this World Cup so far.
There was nothing contentious about the decision that decided the game though. Desire Doue was too quick and too skilful for Diego Gomez, who made thudding knee-on-knee contact with the French winger as he slalomed through the box and clearly brought him down.
The Paraguayans surrounded the officials, howling about a dive, but there was not the vaguest suggestion Doue had gone down easily or exaggerated his fall.
Perhaps — perhaps — it could be argued he had left his leg in the right place and invited contact, as Harry Kane did against DR Congo in England’s game a few days ago, but the VAR review could not possibly have led to any other outcome.
