Germany's big names must deliver, team to go to the limit against Paraguay

Germany faces a critical juncture in the World Cup, needing its star players to elevate their performance against Paraguay in the round of 32. Expectations are high back home for a deep tournament run, but the team's biggest names have yet to hit their stride, placing immense pressure on the squad.

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To reach the very big goals we know the players, who have developed into world-class players in the past couple of years, they have to deliver. That's clear. The players know there is room for improvement.

Coming into the tournament, the four-time world champions boasted a nine-match winning streak, including a dominant 7-1 victory over Curacao. They secured their knockout stage berth for the first time in 12 years with a last-gasp win against Ivory Coast. However, a surprising 2-1 defeat to Ecuador in their final group game ended their streak and ignited alarm bells among fans, casting doubt on coach Julian Nagelsmann's confidence in their ability to win the title.

Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, and Kai Havertz, considered Germany's most prominent talents, have largely delivered below-par performances. Substitute Deniz Undav leads the team with three goals, highlighting the lack of impact from the expected offensive leaders. "To reach the very big goals we know the players, who have developed into world-class players in the past couple of years, they have to deliver. That's clear," said Germany team director Rudi Voeller. "The players know there is room for improvement. We have to go to the limit."

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We have to go to the limit.

Voeller expressed optimism that the star trio is nearing peak form, stating, "You have the feeling that this moment is near. Not much is missing for them to spark." However, Paraguay, who advanced as one of the best third-place finishers in the expanded 48-team format, presents a formidable challenge. They demonstrated resilience after a heavy opening loss to the United States, securing a 1-0 win against Turkey and a scoreless draw with Australia to reach the knockout stage.

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You have the feeling that this moment is near. Not much is missing for them to spark.

Underdogs Paraguay are known for their defensive solidity, having kept two consecutive clean sheets, and their physical style of play. Coach Gustavo Alfaro indicated his team will focus on absorbing pressure and counter-attacking. "Recovering from such a hard result (against the U.S. team) was really hard for us, and in spite of that, our team has been very solid in the past two games," Alfaro said. "We will now recover in order to have all the players ready for the next match."

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Recovering from such a hard result (against the U.S. team) was really hard for us, and in spite of that, our team has been very solid in the past two games.