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Legendary Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz, a former Bayern Munich star, has offered crucial advice to his national team ahead of their Round of 16 clash against Germany at the World Cup.
"We need to make the game incredibly physical and force Germany to work hard. I'm hoping for a high-tempo match; that will benefit us," the 44-year-old veteran stated in an interview with "Süddeutsche Zeitung" before Monday's fixture in Foxborough.
Santa Cruz, who lifted the Champions League trophy with Bayern in 2001, emphasized that the key to success lies in a robust physical battle. "Paraguay must try to draw Germany into a tough fight. The more physical the duel becomes, the better for us," he added.
Santa Cruz holds the record for most goals for his country, with 32 goals in 112 appearances, having retired from the national team in 2016.
According to the five-time German champion, the biggest vulnerability for Julian Nagelsmann's squad lies in their defensive transitions.
"They dominate possession, combine well down the flanks and through the middle, often pinning opponents deep in their own half. Their problems typically arise from quick counter-attacks, executed with high pace and precision," the striker analyzed.
Despite his hopes, Santa Cruz acknowledged that Paraguay, who finished third in Group D behind the USA and Australia, enters the match as underdogs.
He also recalled the 2002 World Cup Round of 16, where Paraguay narrowly lost 1-0 to Germany after a late goal.
"If the match remains evenly contested for a long time, as it did in 2002, then the full weight of expectations will fall on Germany, while Paraguay has much less to lose," Santa Cruz concluded.
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