FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts, June 27. Germany will face Paraguay in the World Cup Round of 32 on Monday at Gillette Stadium, with Julian Nagelsmann’s side heavily favoured to advance against a team that defied expectations to reach the knockout stages.
Kick off is scheduled for 4:30 PM EDT in Foxborough, Massachusetts, as the Germans begin their campaign in the knockout rounds having won Group L despite a final day defeat to Ecuador.
Germany’s group stage form
The three time world champions opened their tournament with a thumping 7-1 victory over Curaçao before edging past Ivory Coast 2-1 in a nervy encounter. A 3-1 loss to Ecuador in their final group match was a sobering end to the group stage, but Nagelsmann’s side had already secured top spot.
The performance against Ecuador raised questions about Germany’s defensive solidity, yet their attacking output, nine goals in three matches, suggests they possess the firepower to trouble any opponent.
Paraguay’s shock progression
Paraguay’s presence in the knockout rounds represents one of the tournament’s early surprises. The South Americans were demolished 4-1 by the United States in their opener, but responded with a gritty 1-0 victory over Türkiye before grinding out a 0-0 draw with Australia.
The four points from that sequence proved sufficient for qualification, as Türkiye’s disastrous campaign which included a 3-1 defeat to Australia, saw them exit at the group stage. Paraguay’s defensive resilience, particularly in the draw with the Socceroos, will give them hope of frustrating a German attack that has looked formidable but occasionally vulnerable on the counter.
What lies ahead
Germany will start as overwhelming favourites against Paraguay, with Nagelsmann expected to restore his strongest available lineup after rotating for the Ecuador match. The Germans’ superior quality and tournament experience should prove decisive, though Paraguay’s capacity to absorb pressure and strike on the break cannot be dismissed.
Should Germany advance, a daunting Round of 16 meeting with France could await. Les Bleus, the 2022 champions, are expected to progress from their group and would represent a significant step up in quality. For now, however, Nagelsmann’s focus will be on ensuring his side do not underestimate a Paraguay team that have already defied expectations simply by reaching this stage.
