World Cup 2026 Round of 32: Germany vs Paraguay

[A_G]

 

[Rex Caudillo]

Story of the tie



Underrated narrative

Paraguay’s greatest ever footballer Roque Santa Cruz became the first player from his country to win the UEFA Champions League.

He won it with Bayern Munich as part of an eight year spell winning almost every trophy you could win with Germany’s leading club.



The Bundesliga has proven to be a good home for Paraguayans beyond Santa Cruz with Nelson Haedo Valdez and Lucas Barrios also having successful German spells.

Past clashes

Despite a long history of World Cup appearances tonight will only be the second time these two have faced each other in a competitive match.

The first was also in the first knockout round but in the 2002 World Cup. In front of a half full Ulsan stadium dark horses Paraguay (managed by Paolo Maldini’s dad Cesare) and eventual finalists Germany played out an absolute stinker of a game.

Almost 90 minutes of half chances with two legendary keepers in Chilavert and Kahn handling anything on target. Things weren’t helped by Paraguayan star man Santa Cruz getting forced off with injury after half an hour.

In a World Cup of notorious refereeing mistakes a pretty blatant handball by substitute Frank Baumann was missed, he was then lucky to stay on the pitch for a studs up tackle minutes later.

Of course the Germans capitalised, and in the 88th minute an an awful header by wing back Caniza set Bernd Schneider away down the right. He whipped a great ball into the box where Oliver Neuville fired an equally superb volley past Chilavert.



Action wasn’t over as Roberto Acuna decided to smash his elbow off Michael Ballack’s head for a straight red card in the dying minutes.

FIFA also uploaded highlights of this yesterday but I honestly wouldn’t bother.

Let’s hope for a better game tonight.

 

[dashsnow17]

Story of the tie

View attachment 48624

Underrated narrative

Paraguay’s greatest ever footballer Roque Santa Cruz became the first player from his country to win the UEFA Champions League.

He won it with Bayern Munich as part of an eight year spell winning almost every trophy you could win with Germany’s leading club.

The Bundesliga has proven to be a good home for Paraguayans beyond Santa Cruz with Nelson Haedo Valdez and Lucas Barrios also having successful German spells.

Past clashes

Despite a long history of World Cup appearances tonight will only be the second time these two have faced each other in a competitive match.

The first was also in the first knockout round but in the 2002 World Cup. In front of a half full Ulsan stadium dark horses Paraguay (managed by Paolo Maldini’s dad Cesare) and eventual finalists Germany played out an absolute stinker of a game.

Almost 90 minutes of half chances with two legendary keepers in Chilavert and Kahn handling anything on target. Things weren’t helped by Paraguayan star man Santa Cruz getting forced off with injury after half an hour.

In a World Cup of notorious refereeing mistakes a pretty blatant handball by substitute Frank Baumann was missed, he was then lucky to stay on the pitch for a studs up tackle minutes later.

Of course the Germans capitalised, and in the 88th minute an an awful header by wing back Caniza set Bernd Schneider away down the right. He whipped a great ball into the box where Oliver Neuville fired an equally superb volley past Chilavert.

View attachment 48623

Action wasn’t over as Roberto Acuna decided to smash his elbow off Michael Ballack’s head for a straight red card in the dying minutes.

FIFA also uploaded highlights of this yesterday but I honestly wouldn’t bother.

Let’s hope for a better game tonight.

Nice preview but you glossed over the fact Paraguay has a sizeable German ethnic population and was a top destination for Nazi war criminals after 1945.

I wonder if Guy Mowbray on comms tonight will mention the illustrious shared heritage of Josef Mengele…

“But it’s a different kind of experiment here, Alan, as Nagelmann’s put Havertz at left back again. What do you make of that?”

 

[Rex Caudillo]

Nice preview but you glossed over the fact Paraguay has a sizeable German ethnic population and was a top destination for Nazi war criminals after 1945.

I wonder if Guy Mowbray on comms tonight will mention the illustrious shared heritage of Josef Mengele…

“But it’s a different kind of experiment here, Alan, as Nagelmann’s put Havertz at left back again. What do you make of that?”

Yes I did consciously gloss over that one

Can maybe revive it if we get a Germany vs Brazil/Argentina final.

Also depending on your definition of “fun fact”, hated dictator
Alfredo Stroessner, who ruled Paraguay for 35 years, was the son of a German immigrant from Bavaria.

 

[Steps]

Nelli the difference maker in the first game. Kai to seal it for Germany?

Arsenal carrying the World Cup. Thankless job, really.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

Kai and Undav both starting together.

Really wished this game was the last game and Holland Vs Morocco is next.

We all know what going to happen this game Paraguay will low block and s**thouse

 

[Entropics]

Thought this could be fun but without Alderete and Gomez it will probably be a formality

 

[Rain Dance]

unless Germany scores early, it's going to be a slow match

Paraguay is aiming for PK shoot out

 

[Vinci]

90 minutes of watching Sane and Wirtz struggling to get past the full-back.

Hope Kai steps up to make it an interesting match.

 

[GDeep™]

How has Havertz been playing? I know he only scored against Curucao.

 

[GDeep™]

Would you sing your national anthem if you were ballers? I wouldn’t.

 

[Energoto]

Undav looks to be on the Kebap diet

 

[Thrice]

Wirtz literally has no shooting technique.

 

[GDeep™]

Undav looks like he cuts hair

 

[Sanchez11]

Sane is cooked

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

Another dreadful game.

 

[A_G]

Sane is cooked

Remember when A-M was hoping he was TeamNewsAndTix’s mystery German?

 

[Sanchez11]

Remember when A-M was hoping he was TeamNewsAndTix’s mystery German?

Yeah sad times

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

Germany seriously struggling to break low blocks

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

Germany seriously don't have better RW than sane?

Also wirtz been shocking