Germany faces Paraguay in Boston
Germany is set to face Paraguay in the World Cup 2026 round of 32. The match will take place on Monday, June 29, with a kick-off scheduled for 9:30 PM BST. The venue for this significant fixture is the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Boston. Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch live coverage of the game on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The German side enters the knockout stage for the first time in twelve years, aiming to avoid an early exit. Their journey to this point included a mixed Group E campaign, which saw them finish as winners despite a recent 2-1 loss to Ecuador. This marked the end of an eleven-game winning streak for Germany.
Paraguay, on the other hand, advanced from Group D in third place. Their path included a 4-1 defeat to the United States in their opener, followed by a 1-0 victory against Turkey, where they played the second half with ten men after Miguel Almiron received a red card. They then secured a 0-0 draw against Australia, a match in which they recorded seven shots, with only two on target.
Team news and tactical considerations
For Germany, head coach Julian Nagelsmann is expected to make adjustments following their group stage performances. Antonio Rudiger is confirmed in the back four due to Nico Schlotterbeck’s injury. Nathaniel Brown is anticipated to be fit. The starting lineup against Paraguay is predicted to feature Manuel Neuer in goal, with Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan Tah, Antonio Rudiger, and Nathaniel Brown in defence. The midfield could see Aleksandar Pavlovic and Felix Nmecha, supporting an attacking line of Jamal Musiala, Deniz Undav, and Florian Wirtz, with Kai Havertz leading the attack.
However, the confirmed lineup for Germany showed some changes, with Musiala dropped for Undav. The confirmed XI included Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, Brown; Pavlovic, Nmecha; Leroy Sane, Havertz, Wirtz; and Undav. This suggests Undav starting up front, with Havertz potentially in a midfield role.
Paraguay’s confirmed lineup included Gill; Caceres, Gomez, Canale, Alonso; Cubas, Bobadilla, Fonda; Almiron, Enciso, and Avalos. Damian Bobadilla is set to replace the suspended Diego Gomez in midfield, while Miguel Almiron is available after serving a ban. Defender Omar Alderete is expected to miss the match due to a knee problem.
Key statistics and match outlook
Recent form indicates that Paraguay has not won six of their last ten matches. In contrast, Germany’s last eight games have all seen over 2.5 goals scored. During the group stages, Paraguay accumulated the joint-most cards with seven yellows and one red, while Germany had the joint-highest shots on target tally, averaging 7.3 per game compared to Paraguay’s 1.7.
The winner of this match will advance to the last-16 fixture in Philadelphia, where they will face either France or Sweden on Saturday, July 4. This follows other knockout stage results, including Brazil’s 2-1 victory over Japan and Canada’s late win against South Africa.
| Match betting (90 mins) | Odds |
|---|---|
| Germany | 3-10 |
| Paraguay | 9-1 |
| Draw | 4-1 |
Felix Nmecha, who had a goal against Curacao and an assist for Deniz Undav’s winner against Ivory Coast, is highlighted as a player who could be influential. He averages three shots per game in the finals. Miguel Almiron of Paraguay made two tackles against both the USA and Turkey. Antonio Rudiger is also noted as a player who could be a threat from set-pieces due to German pressure.
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Source: racingpost.com
Freya Donnelly is the Sports Reporter at News-UK, covering tennis, cricket and athletics with seven years of reporting experience. She reported on Team GB through an Olympic cycle. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Brighton and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Brighton, she plays club cricket in the summer. “Listening is the most underrated skill in sports reporting.”
