France are preparing for a "completely different" challenge against Morocco in Thursday's World Cup quarter-final after overcoming a physically demanding encounter with Paraguay, assistant coach Guy Stéphan said on Monday.
Les Bleus booked their place in the last eight after edging Paraguay in a bruising Round of 16 contest, with Stéphan saying the match tested his players both physically and mentally.
"I think that playing a match like that at this stage of the tournament was beneficial for us because it showed what the players are capable of in the face of that kind of adversity," Stéphan told reporters.
"It was a day when it would have been easy to lose control, but nobody did. That shows maturity, even though we have a young squad."
The French Football Federation has appealed the yellow card shown to forward Michael Olise during the match, with France receiving three bookings compared to one for Paraguay.
Looking ahead to Thursday's clash in Boston, Stéphan praised Morocco, describing the Atlas Lions as one of the tournament's strongest teams.
"It will be a completely different kind of opposition," he said. "They are well organised, well structured, very solid, and above all extremely dangerous in transition. They have scored a lot of goals and possess quality players on both flanks. There is no doubt they are a quality team."
France could receive a boost with Marcus Thuram expected to return to training after recovering from a calf injury, while midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni remains doubtful because of an adductor problem.
Stéphan also condemned the racist remarks directed at captain Kylian Mbappé by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla following France's victory over Paraguay.
"In three words," he said. "It's disgraceful, vile, outrageous."
