The USA wanted some of the show on their 250th anniversary of their founding fathers’ historic work here in the cradle of the nation, so there were flags, people dancing and someone wearing a Santa Claus outfit in 100F. The stuff they do well.

But even before the game kicked off there was a sense, in Kylian Mbappe’s utter irrepressibility, that no one waving red, white and blue would be taking his colours. He led the warm-up. He shinned over the advertising hoardings to apologise to a fan whom he’d hit with a shot. Photographers scrambled to follow.

He stole the show again last night, against a deeply cynical and unpleasant Paraguay who tried to shut him down with dark arts. When substitute Desire Doue’s run through the box saw him tripped by Diego Domez to earn France a rightful penalty, Mbappe calmly slotted home to send his nation through to a quarter-final against Morocco in Boston on Thursday.

Disgraceful Paraguay

How Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev didn’t award a single yellow card to a Paraguayan player beggars belief. It was the vicious little swat at Mbappe from Matias Galares as he raced to join the attack as the first half wore on which really reeked of cynicism. Galares wasn’t even watching play as he deliberately applied the strike out of the view of a referee who didn’t even stop play. There was another nasty shoulder barge on from Galares on Jules Kounde before the end.

When Mbappe scuffled with Andrew Cubas having been dragged down by him in the first half, there were several more Paraguayans ready and waiting to launch straight into the skirmish and try to provoke Bradley Barcola, who had already received a yellow card. When the penalty was awarded, Ousmane Dembele protected the spot from South American attempts to scuff it up but Matias Galarza and Gustavo Velazquez tried to do this anyway. A World Cup didn’t need a team like this in its quarter finals.

Brick wall for Mbappe

The Paraguayans did manage to shut Mbappe down and prevent him thriving in the way he has throughout the group stage. Mbappe slipped the ball the legs of Diego Domez in a way which showed them how elusive he might be. But the opposition defence dropped deep which meant nothing was on offer for him, bar a cross from Ousmane Dembele which he leapt too early to get contact on. Mike Maignan attempted a different strategy after the break – delivering a long flat route-one ball for Mbappe to run onto, which he applied a heavy first touch to and allowed Caceres to intervene. There was also a shot and follow-up on the rebound which keeper Orland Gill saved. But he had stared the enormity of the penalty in the face and did not blink. His show again.

Step up Doue

It’s been an extraordinary 18 months for PSG’s Desire Doue, culminating in the 21-year-old’s appearance here. ‘I think every player who gets the chance to play at a World Cup feels nothing but pure joy. I'm always smiling during the national anthem because I’m over the moon to be here,’ he said before the game. There’s a beauty in the joy he expresses. He was on the bench last night but made a huge statement of his value to Didier Deschamps by delivering that moment of magic that France needed. There was poise, balance and strength in the way he barrelled through the box and drew the foul.

Paraguay’s sole bright light

The Paraguayan keeper Orland Gill, who plays club football in Argentina, was superb when needed to keep Paraguay in the match. He tipped Manu Koné's fine strike over the bar and then showed sharp instincts when making the double block from Mbappe at the end.

What does this win tell us about France?

That beyond the obvious individual talents at their disposal and the presence of Mbappe, they have patience and calmness in their make-up and are not prone to the Gallic intemperance we have seen at times over the years. Many teams would have risen to the bait here on Saturday night. They did not, despite the three yellow cards dished out to them. And then there is Mbappe himself. He was constantly repelled here but he continues to show in the power of his attacking thrusts and ability to bring the best out of his teammates, that he is on another planet from the player we saw struggle to make a big imprint on the Euros two years ago

USA delirium

It's been a huge day here for Americans. Thousands have flown in from across the US to be in the cradle of the country for the 4th of July celebrations and the on-pitch event before kick-off – a mini –‘Opening Ceremony’ - underlined how the World Cup is helping the party along. ‘We are a divided country but the World Cup has helped. I’ve not heard one person say a bad word about another country,’ said one local. Now it’s France’s turn to mark a big day in their calendar. If they beat Morocco, they’ll play a semi-final on Bastille Day – July 14.