Pre-match information
Paraguay defeated Germany 4-3 on penalties after Jose Canale successfully converted the decisive penalty. Previously, the two teams drew 1-1 in 120 breathtaking minutes in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup.
La Albirroja has created one of the biggest shocks in the history of World Cup knockout rounds. Before the tournament, Germany ranked 10th in the FIFA rankings, while Paraguay only ranked 41st.
After a heavy 1-4 defeat to the USA in the opening match, Paraguay has completely changed its appearance. Under the guidance of coach Gustavo Alfaro, the South American team is increasingly playing cohesively, disciplinedly and becoming an unbeatable opponent.
Since Alfaro took over the national team in August 2024, Paraguay has only lost one of the 12 World Cup qualifiers. In all competitions, they have also only suffered 5 defeats in the last 23 matches, besides 10 wins and 8 draws.
However, Paraguay's next challenge will be even more difficult. Their opponent in the round of 16 is France, a team that Paraguay has never defeated in five previous encounters, with a record of two draws and three losses.
The most memorable memory between the two teams is the match in the round of 16 of the 1998 World Cup, when Paraguay was only subdued by Laurent Blanc's golden goal in the 114th minute. This reunion is therefore also meaningful as an opportunity for Paraguay to reclaim their historical debt.
On the other side, the French team entered the match with extremely impressive form. Les Bleus are one of 3 teams, along with Mexico and Argentina, to win all matches since the beginning of the 2026 World Cup. They are also the team with the most goals in the tournament with 12 goals.
France's strength comes from a quality attack including Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola. In the round of 32, Mbappe continued to shine with a double to help the home team easily overcome Sweden 3-0.
Ranked FIFA number one in the world and one of the brightest candidates for the 2026 World Cup championship, France has won 9 out of the last 10 international matches in all competitions.
