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29 June 2026 39 comments
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It’s the Group E winners versus third place in Group D this evening as Germany face Paraguay.

Kick-off is at 21:30 BST.

The two Round of 32 ties preceding this fixture went according to the bookies’ odds, although Brazil and Canada had to rely on injury-time winners to progress.

Nationalmannschaft, massive favourites for this one, will be hoping for an easier ride in their first World Cup knockout tie since 2014.

Paraguay, at their first World Cup since a run to the quarter-finals in 2010, are the fifth-lowest ranked nation still left in this summer’s tournament.

It doesn’t get any easier for whoever emerges victorious, as France likely await in the Round of 16.

TEAM NEWS

Last time out, Julian Nagelsmann named a strong side for what was, to Germany, a meaningless clash with Ecuador. Qualification as Group E winners was already assured before that defeat.

Compared to that starting XI, the German head coach has made two alterations.

One comes at left-back as Nathaniel Brown ($4.7m) is fit to return and take the place of David Raum ($4.9m).

The other has perhaps been coming for a while, as three-goal Deniz Undav ($6.6m) ousts Jamal Musiala ($8.0m) from the Germany attack.

Paraguay boss Gustavo Alfaro makes four changes, meanwhile. Two are enforced because Omar Alderete ($4.1m) isn’t fully fit and Diego Gomez ($6.8m) is suspended.

Gustavo Velazquez ($3.8m) and Alexandro Maidana ($4.0m) drop to the bench, too.

In come Junior Alonso ($4.1m), Jose Canale ($3.6m), Miguel Almiron ($6.0m) – himself just back from a ban – and Damian Bobadilla ($5.5m).

LINE-UPS

Germany XI: Neuer, Brown, Tah, Rudiger, Kimmich, Pavlovic, Nmecha, Wirtz, Undav, Sane, Havertz.

Subs: Baumann, Nubel, Anton, Gross, Raum, Thiaw, Goretzka, Leweling, Musiala, Stiller, Amiri, Ouedraogo, Woltemade, Beier.

Paraguay XI: Gill, Alonso, Canale, G Gomez, Caceres, Cubas, Enciso, Galarza, Bobadilla, Almiron, Avalos.

Subs: Fernandez, Olveira, Velazquez, Alderete, Balbuena, Maidana, Sosa, Mauricio, Kaku, Ojeda, Caballero, Sanabria, Arce, Pitta.


39 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    2 hours, 30 mins ago

    Auf geht's DEUTSCHLAND

  2. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 hours, 5 mins ago

    Junior Alonso almost spoiled the party

  3. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 hour, 45 mins ago

    Anyone else only get 6pts total for Vini(c) despite him getting 4pts meaning it should be 8pts?

    Hey every point counts

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      1 hour, 12 mins ago

      It's 2x2 + 2(quali booster)

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      1 hour, 10 mins ago

      You don't get qualification bonus doubled

      1. Weasel Boy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 hour, 7 mins ago

        Oh that's crap.

        Ok cheers

  4. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 7 Years
    1 hour, 39 mins ago

    If I move Vinicius Jr to the bench do I still get the 2 points for his side advancing to the 16?

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      1 hour, 22 mins ago

      Don't think sl

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 hour, 19 mins ago

      Rules say starting 11 only

      1. BeaversWithAttitude
        • 7 Years
        1 hour, 16 mins ago

        Thanks, mate.

  5. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    1 hour, 29 mins ago

    Let's go Wirtz!

  6. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 hour, 26 mins ago

    Hahaha

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 hour, 25 mins ago

      Nice goal

      1. The Knights Template
        • 12 Years
        1 hour, 22 mins ago

        It’s been coming according to Nerdlbaum

        1. The Bandit
          • 15 Years
          1 hour, 20 mins ago

          How’s his jaundice?

  7. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 hour, 26 mins ago

    Game needed that goal

  8. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 hour, 26 mins ago

    Paraguay 1-0

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 hour, 6 mins ago

      Enciso gpal,.Galarza assist.

  9. Haa-lala-land
    • 5 Years
    1 hour, 22 mins ago

    Galarza assist. Get in. Thats a well earned scouting bonus.

  10. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 hour, 18 mins ago

    Surprised Shearer hasn’t mentioned how bad Germany have been. 😆

  11. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 hour, 10 mins ago

    Didn't pick any German players, going alright so far.

  12. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 hour, 5 mins ago

    Germany like italy need an overhaul. The 2002 German team was one of the weakest german teams but still reached the final.. losing to paraguay would be the highest embarassment.

  13. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 hour ago

    Goretzka in for nmecha. Is that the answer? Another oldie comes in. Take Sane off

  14. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    51 mins ago

    Havertz goal, wirtz assist

  15. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    50 mins ago

    Nice equalizer from Germany.

  16. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    49 mins ago

    Now Wirtz go get that goal, so picking you as my cap would pay off...

  17. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    48 mins ago

    So going by the trend, germany should be scoring an injury time winner?

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 mins ago

      Might jinx it by saying something like "Can't wait for extra time!"

  18. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    41 mins ago

    Musiala subbed in, Undav out.

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      38 mins ago

      Should have stuck to undav off bench

      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        34 mins ago

        They might be able to bring him back on, as nobody noticed he was playing.

  19. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    34 mins ago

    1 good thing about this wc. Knockouts even r32 have been incredibly tight. Capo verde and Dr congo and sweden to the same?

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      just now

      Swedens defence is pretty bad, I'd be surprised if France don't score 3 goals or more.

  20. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    19 mins ago

    Arsenal players at 7 combined goals at the world cup now

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 min ago

      That's a Trophy init

  21. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    10 mins ago

    If it goes to penalties, paraguay will win as Neuer is quite poor at saving penalties. Keeps diving too early. Baumann much better at saving penalties

  22. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    9 mins ago

    Wow no injury time winner!

  23. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    8 mins ago

    Extra time it is then.

  24. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    2 mins ago

    Wonder what Galarza's run distance total is?