Germany to face Paraguay's defensive wall

The World Cup is entering its most intense phase, with Gillette Stadium set to host a thrilling Round of 16 clash between Germany and Paraguay. The match, kicking off tonight at 11:30 PM Bulgarian time, pits one of the main title contenders against a team known for its resilience and iron discipline. The winner of this tie will face the tough task of playing either France or Sweden in the next stage of the tournament.

You can watch this match, along with all 104 games from the 2026 World Cup in North America, live on bnt.sportal.bg.

Julian Nagelsmann's squad showed impressive form in their warm-up matches and the start of the group stage. The Bundesteam secured four consecutive victories, including a resounding 7-1 win against Curaçao and a hard-fought 2-1 success over Ivory Coast. However, in their final group match, the Germans suffered a 1-2 defeat to Ecuador, which served as a timely wake-up call ahead of the knockout rounds.

Paraguay advanced to this stage as one of the best third-placed teams, relying heavily on their defensive stability. Gustavo Alfaro's side kept two clean sheets in their last three tournament matches—a 1-0 victory over Turkey and a goalless draw against Australia. Despite a heavy 1-4 loss to the USA early in the tournament, the "Guaraníes" have shown they can be exceptionally compact and difficult to break down, especially as underdogs. During the qualifiers, the team secured wins against Brazil and Argentina, which will give the players confidence that they can also handle Germany.

The history of encounters between these two rivals at the World Cup is brief but memorable. Their last official match dates back to June 15, 2002, when Germany edged out Paraguay 1-0, also in the knockout phase. This past success gives the Europeans a psychological advantage, but the South Americans are determined to write a different story this time.

Germany will be without defender Nico Schlotterbeck, who is out for the rest of the World Cup with an ankle injury. This means Antonio Rüdiger and Jonathan Tah will form the central defensive pairing. The good news for Nagelsmann is the return of left-back Nathaniel Brown. Up front, Kai Havertz will lead the attack in a typical 4-2-3-1 formation. For Paraguay, the big news is the return of star player Miguel Almirón, who has served his suspension. However, the team will be without the suspended Diego Gómez, and the participation of defender Omar Alderete remains in doubt due to a knee injury.