​Germany are gearing up for their first World Cup knockout game in 12 years, facing Paraguay in the Round of 32 at Boston Stadium on Monday. They topped Group E, though their form dipped near the knockout rounds. After an explosive 7-1 victory over Curaçao and a solid 2-1 win against the Ivory Coast, their final group match saw a 2-1 defeat to Ecuador, exposing defensive vulnerabilities. Despite possessing one of the tournament’s most potent attacks, Germany must deliver greater consistency from their key players to regain balance.
In team news, center-back Nico Schlotterbeck has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament with a serious ankle injury, leaving Nagelsmann relying on the experienced center-back pairing of Antonio Rüdiger and Jonathan Tah. There is also doubt over left-back Nathaniel Brown, who sat out the Ecuador game with an adductor issue; while team director Rudi Völler hopes he may recover in time, David Raum is ready to step in if needed. On the plus side, Germany’s attacking options are fully fit.
Nagelsmann is expected to deploy a dynamic, fluid forward line spearheaded by Kai Havertz, with creative support from Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, and Leroy Sané.
Predicted Germany starting XI: Neuer; Kimmich, Rudiger, Tah, Brown; Nmecha, Pavlovic; Sane, Musiala, Wirtz; Havertz.
The match kicks off at 9:30pm BST on Monday, 29 June. UK viewers can watch live and free-to-air on BBC One.