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Germany & Paraguay: Two Worlds of Adversity Collide
Germany’s World Cup Crossroads: A Must-Win Match Against Paraguay
A Famous Soccer Rivalry Gets A New Chapter
Most people know legendary English player Gary Lineker for one of soccer’s most famous quotes. After England lost to Germany in the 1990 World Cup, Lineker joked: "Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and, at the end, the Germans always win."
For decades, this saying captured Germany’s reputation as the team you could never count out. They always seemed to find a way to win when it mattered most.
But times have changed.
Recently, Lineker made headlines again — this time with a very different message about Germany. Speaking to the French sports newspaper L’Équipe, he said: "This is one of the weakest German national teams I’ve ever seen."
That’s a big deal coming from someone whose words about Germany are usually taken very seriously!
Important Point: Gary Lineker went from praising Germany as an unbeatable team to calling them one of the weakest he’s ever seen. That’s a massive shift in reputation!
Germany’s Rocky Road to This Match
Let’s look at how Germany actually performed in this World Cup so far:
- Bigger win over Curaçao (7-1)
- Narrow win over Ivory Coast (2-1)
- Lost to Ecuador (2-1) — even though they had been leading!
Despite the loss to Ecuador, Germany still managed to win their group (Group E!) and advance to the next round. Their reward? A knockout match against Paraguay on Monday.
But here’s what makes this moment so meaningful: this is Germany’s first elimination game in 12 years. The last time they were in a do-or-die situation this early in a tournament was a lifetime ago in soccer terms.
Germany’s Big Comeback Attempt
Germany won the World Cup in 2014, which feels like a long time ago now. Since then, things haven’t gone well:
- They failed to advance past the group stage in two consecutive World Cups
- Fans and experts started wondering what had happened to the once-dominant team
That’s why the German soccer federation hired a new coach: Julian Nagelsmann, a 38-year-old known for his fresh ideas and energy. He took over from Hansi Flick and made his coaching debut for the German national team in 2023.
Nagelsmann’s first game with Germany went well — a 3-1 win over the USA in East Hartford, Connecticut. Three days later, Germany drew 2-2 with Mexico in Philadelphia.
Now, Germany is right back where Nagelsmann started, and if they win against Paraguay, they’ll head to Philadelphia for a potential showdown with France.
What the Players and Coach Are Saying
Kai Havertz (Germany’s striker) didn’t seem bothered by Lineker’s comments:
"Everyone has their own opinion. I don’t have a problem with it. I don’t listen to what other people say. We already have experts in our country."
Julian Nagelsmann (Germany’s coach) was more blunt about the stakes:
"It’s always about winning when you talk about Germany. We try to win every game. In soccer, if you win everything is good. If you lose everything is [spit]."
He also praised his team’s attitude:
"I haven’t seen one bad training session. They give 100 percent every session."
About Paraguay, Nagelsmann warned:
"They play a very straightforward type of game — strong physically. They are an uncomfortable opponent for us. We need to play a perfect game tomorrow."
Important Point: Nagelsmann called this a "do-or-die match" — meaning if they lose, they’re out of the World Cup. No second chances!
Paraguay: The Underdog With Nothing To Lose
Paraguay’s journey to this moment has been dramatic. They got crushed in their first game — a 4-1 loss to the United States. Most teams would fold after that, but Paraguay didn’t.
Here’s how they bounced back:
- Beat Turkey 1-0 — a narrow but crucial win
- Tied Australia 0-0 — a defensive battle where they held firm
- Advanced to the Round of 32 — sending them straight to face Germany
Gustavo Alfaro (Paraguay’s coach) was proud of his team:
"We are the team everybody wanted to be out, and we made it. I’m happy we competed, and our competitiveness allowed us to move on to the next stage."
He also didn’t shy away from the challenge ahead:
"Germany has so many set pieces prepared and I don’t have time to prepare my team. It’s complex, and maybe impossible, but we must face it the way we should — in a positive way."
Gustavo Gómez (Paraguay’s defender) added:
"It’s difficult to promise results in football, but in three matches, we’ve shown our team will compete, pull out all the stops on the field, and tomorrow won’t be different."
What’s Really At Stake
This match matters for two very different reasons:
For Germany: They need to prove they’re not the "weak" team Lineker described. A loss would confirm that Germany’s golden era is truly over, and a coaching change alone can’t fix the problems.
For Paraguay: They’re the underdog nobody expected to be here. A win would be one of the biggest upsets of the tournament and would prove that heart and hustle can overcome having less talent than your opponent.
The winner goes to Philadelphia. The loser goes home.
Summary
| What | Key Detail |
|---|---|
| The famous quote | "The Germans always win" — Gary Lineker, 1990 |
| Lineker’s new opinion | "One of the weakest German teams I’ve ever seen" |
| Germany’s group stage | Won group despite losing to Ecuador |
| Germany’s problem | Failed to advance in 2 last World Cups |
| New coach | Julian Nagelsmann (38 years old) |
| Paraguay’s comeback | Lost 4-1 to USA, then won and drew to advance |
| Match stakes | Winner faces France in Philadelphia |
| Coach Nagelsmann’s take | "A do-or-die match" |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What did Gary Lineker say about Germany in 1990?
After England lost to Germany in the World Cup semifinal, Lineker famously said: "Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and, at the end, the Germans always win." It became one of soccer’s most quoted lines.
Q: Why is this match so important for Germany?
This is Germany’s first elimination game in 12 years. Losing two straight World Cups in the group stage was embarrassing for a four-time champion. They need to prove they can still compete when it matters most.
Q: Who is Julian Nagelsmann?
He’s Germany’s 38-year-old head coach who was hired to turn things around after the team’s recent struggles. He made his debut in 2023 and is now leading Germany through this World Cup.
Q: How did Paraguay make it to this round?
Paraguay lost their first game 4-1 to the United States but bounced back by beating Turkey 1-0 and tying Australia 0-0. That was enough to advance to the knockout stage.
Q: What happens if Germany wins?
They advance to Philadelphia for a potential Round of 16 match against France — one of the strongest teams in the world.
