Germany vs. Paraguay: Why both sides' contrasting flaws make this clash the World Cup's most fascinating last-32 tie

Germany's round-of-32 gathering with Paraguay astatine Gillette Stadium connected Monday was ne'er expected to header the knockout stage, but the contrasting weaknesses of these 2 sides marque it a acold much compelling contention than the 31 places separating them successful the FIFA rankings would suggest.

Julian Nagelsmann's men get inactive searching for answers to their antiaircraft vulnerability, portion Gustavo Alfaro's broadside person reached the knockout rounds contempt carrying 1 of the bluntest attacks near successful the tournament.

Die Mannschaft secured apical spot successful Group E with six points from their opening 2 matches, but a 2-1 decision to Ecuador aft qualification had already been sealed exposed acquainted antiaircraft frailties, leaving them without a cleanable expanse successful immoderate of their 3 radical games.

Paraguay, meanwhile, recovered from a dense 4-1 decision to co-hosts United States by edging past Turkey 1-0 earlier holding Australia to a goalless draw, squeezing into the past 32 arsenic 1 of the tournament's champion third-placed teams.

With 1 broadside struggling to support the shot retired of their ain nett and the different uncovering goals progressively hard to travel by, Sports Mole examines wherefore this necktie could beryllium acold person than galore expect.

Germany's antiaircraft record: Clean sheets are becoming a overseas concept

Germany entered the World Cup with 1 of Europe's astir reliable defences aft conceding conscionable 3 goals successful six qualifying matches and keeping 4 consecutive cleanable sheets.

That solidity has disappeared successful caller months, though, with Nagelsmann's broadside present failing to support a cleanable expanse successful six of their past 7 outings, portion Ecuador became the latest squad to capitalise contempt failing to people successful either of their opening 2 radical matches.

Although the decision ended Germany's 11-match winning run, it besides extended a worrying series that has seen them neglect to grounds a shut-out successful each of their past 9 World Cup fixtures since beating Argentina successful the 2014 final.

That said, Manuel Neuer's instrumentality from planetary status has added experience, but the seasoned goalkeeper has yet to supply the reassurance Germany would person hoped for, having stopped conscionable 42.9% of the shots connected people helium has faced astatine this tournament, the lowest prevention percent of his 5 World Cup appearances.

Germany person besides been weakened by the nonaccomplishment of Nico Schlotterbeck, whose tournament-ending medial ankle ligament wounded leaves Antonio Rüdiger and Jonathan Tah expected to proceed successful cardinal defence arsenic Nagelsmann searches for a operation susceptible of ending their antiaircraft slump.

Paraguay's attack: a bluntness that past backs up

Paraguay's attacking struggles are thing new, having scored conscionable 14 goals crossed 18 CONMEBOL qualifying matches, the fewest among the apical 7 successful the section.

That deficiency of cutting borderline has followed them into the World Cup, with Alfaro's broadside managing lone 2 goals from 5 shots connected people portion producing conscionable 2.33 expected goals crossed their 3 radical matches.

One of those goals came from Matias Galarza's stunning long-range onslaught against Turkey, a infinitesimal of idiosyncratic brilliance that did small to disguise however small Paraguay person created done sustained attacking play.

Los Guaranies person besides failed to people much than erstwhile successful immoderate of their past six competitory matches, managing lone six goals during that run.

Perhaps astir tellingly, Paraguay person ne'er scored successful immoderate of their 5 erstwhile World Cup knockout matches, the longest goalless streak by immoderate federation successful the competition's knockout history.

Who holds the borderline erstwhile it matters most?

Germany's pedigree astatine this signifier remains hard to ignore, with the four-time satellite champions winning 8 of their past 9 World Cup knockout matches and progressing from each of their erstwhile 5 ties against South American opponents.

That grounds includes a 1-0 triumph implicit Paraguay successful the past 16 of the 2002 World Cup, which remains the nations' lone erstwhile gathering astatine the tournament.

Los Guaranies, meanwhile, person mislaid each 4 of their erstwhile World Cup knockout matches against European absorption without scoring a azygous goal, an unwanted grounds that lone adds to the standard of their task.

Paraguay's hopes person besides been dented by the suspension of Diego Gomez aft 2 bookings successful the radical stage, depriving Alfaro of 1 of his astir energetic midfielders astatine a clip erstwhile containing Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala already represents 1 of the toughest assignments successful planetary football.