Germany vs Paraguay prediction, tips and odds | World Cup 2026

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This year’s global tournament saw Germany advance past the group stage of a World Cup since they were crowned champions in 2014, and the four-time winners resume their pursuit of a fifth title on Monday in Foxborough against a Paraguay side back in the knockout stage for the first time since 2010.

Die Nationalelf topped Group E to get here, while Gustavo Alfaro’s side advanced among the leading third-placed teams, setting up a meeting of German pedigree and South American resilience.

Germany vs Paraguay form and preview

A 7-1 rout of Curacao set the tone for Germany’s group campaign, before a second-match fightback against Ivory Coast, won 2-1, locked up first place.

There is real firepower across the front line, with Germany scoring at least twice in seven of their last eight matches and rarely looking short of ideas against deep defences.

Antonio Rudiger and David Raum were handed starts for the final group fixture after Nico Schlotterbeck and Nathaniel Brown picked up injuries, a reshuffle at the back that Nagelsmann had not planned for.

Leroy Sane put Die Nationalelf in front early against Ecuador, yet Germany still went down 2-1, a stumble that halted a sequence of 11 straight wins and exposed a back line which has not shut an opponent out at a World Cup since the 2014 final.

Kai Havertz tops the current squad’s scoring list on 24 international goals and should again be trusted through the middle, though it is Deniz Undav who has been the most clinical German at the finals, netting three times despite not starting a match.

Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala give Germany two of the most creative attackers anywhere at the competition, the pair carrying 11 and 10 international goals respectively from their advanced positions.

The last time Paraguay reached the World Cup’s knockout stage, back in 2010, they ran all the way to the quarter-finals before Spain halted them, and Alfaro will be desperate for his side to find that kind of bite again.

A cagey goalless draw with Australia was enough to carry them through, even if that display was worth only 0.24 expected goals and passed up a first-ever opportunity to win consecutive matches at a World Cup.

After a chastening 4-1 loss to the United States on the opening day, Paraguay regrouped to grind out a 1-0 win over Turkey, the kind of night that shows they can stifle stronger opponents and strike on the counter.

Goalscoring is the obvious concern, since Paraguay have failed to score in all five of the World Cup knockout matches they have ever contested, although a German side that has conceded in each of its last nine World Cup games offers La Albirroja a glimmer of hope.

Miguel Almiron remains their most experienced attacking outlet on 10 international goals, while captain Gustavo Gomez marshals the back line with 92 caps to his name.

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Team news: Germany vs Paraguay

Germany

Nico Schlotterbeck is ruled out through injury, the centre-back having been withdrawn at half time of the matchday-two win over Ivory Coast after a bright start to the tournament that even included a goal in the opening game.

Losing one of their most dependable defenders at this point is a real setback, and Antonio Rudiger is expected to partner Jonathan Tah at centre-back, having already done so in the defeat to Ecuador, though Malick Thiaw offers an alternative in that role.

Nathaniel Brown is a doubt at left-back after the problem that saw David Raum deputise against Ecuador, leaving Nagelsmann with a decision to make in that area.

Germany are otherwise close to full strength, with captain Joshua Kimmich operating from right-back in front of the 40-year-old Manuel Neuer and an experienced spine that remains intact.

Paraguay

Diego Gomez is suspended after collecting a booking in two separate group games, and the accumulation rules the midfielder out of a fixture in which his influence in the centre of the pitch will be missed.

Omar Alderete is a major doubt at the back, a real concern for a side already deprived of a regular starter in the aforementioned Brighton and Hove Albion man.

There is better news further forward, with Miguel Almiron available again after sitting out the Australia draw through suspension, and the playmaker should return straight to the starting line-up while Matias Galarza fills a more central role.

Captain Gustavo Gomez anchors the defence on 92 caps of experience, and much of Paraguay’s resistance will be built around the Palmeiras man.

Predicted XIs: Germany vs Paraguay

Predicted Germany XI (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Brown, Rudiger, Tah, Kimmich; Nmecha, Pavlovic; Wirtz, Musiala, Sane; Havertz.

Predicted Paraguay XI (4-4-2): Gill; Alonso, Velazquez, Gomez, Caceres; Mauricio, Cubas, Galarza, Almiron; Avalos, Enciso.

Head-to-head: Germany vs Paraguay

These nations have met only twice, with Germany winning one and drawing the other to remain unbeaten in the fixture.

The sides first crossed paths at the 2002 World Cup, when Germany edged a tight contest by a single goal.

Their most recent meeting was a 3-3 friendly back in 2013, a result that carries little weight given how heavily both squads have been rebuilt since.

There is a crumb of encouragement for Paraguay in that the loss to Ecuador snapped a run of four straight wins for Germany over South American nations at World Cups.

Our Germany vs Paraguay prediction and tips

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