June 29, 2026 at – 11:32
Former red-and-red captain José Luis Chilavert analyzed the duel between Paraguay and Germany for the 2026 World Cup and proposed a strategy based on balance, pressure in the midfield and taking advantage of quick transitions.
In the run-up to the meeting between the Paraguayan National Team and his counterpart from Germany, the ex-goalkeeper and historical red-faced reference José Luis Chilavert analyzed the match for the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup.
“We Paraguayans cannot give in to anyone. The fundamental thing in this is that everything is possible when a team is united,” he said.
The match starts at 5:30 p.m. (Paraguayan time) and will determine who qualifies for the round of 16.
The tactical proposal: balance, midfield and courage
Regarding the strategy to face the German team, Chilavert warned that Paraguay should not withdraw excessively, since that would favor the rival’s game.
Instead, he insisted on the importance of contesting the midfield and promoting set pieces. “When a German grabs the ball, three Paraguayans have to breathe down his neck and be suffocated,” he declared.
He stressed that it will be important for the midfielders to generate play, in addition to worrying about cutting off German plays.
“The 2002 team had a defensive balance and in the middle. We had two men of destruction, like Estanislao Struway and Roberto Acuña. Today, I believe that Paraguay has potential. We recovered Miguel Almirón and we have Julio Enciso. We should have more control of the ball in the middle and assist the attackers quickly. Then we have an advantage because we have men who play the aerial game very well,” he expressed.
Read more: Paraguay’s last rehearsals before the clash against Germany
Speed and counterattack as main weapons
Chilavert highlighted that both Julio Enciso as Miguel Almiron They must be decisive due to their speed, especially in offensive transitions.
“We don’t have to go out and defend ourselves; Paraguay can play as equals, taking care of the spaces. Germany plays well from the middle forward. Defensively, it has a lot of weaknesses. Paraguay must take advantage of that virtue by having good free kick and corner players,” he mentioned.
The role of the goalkeeper and defensive organization
Another of the keys pointed out by the former goalkeeper is the defensive organization and the role of the goalkeeper.
As indicated, the defense must play between 5 to 10 meters away from the six-yard box.
“Orlando Gill has to speak, he has to command his defense, he is the one who sees the play from the front,” he said.
In addition, he mentioned that the Guaraní language can become a communication advantage within the playing field.
The memory of the 2002 World Cup against Germany
Chilavert also remembered the match between Paraguay and Germany, in the round of 16 of the 2002 World Cup, which he had to play as the red-haired captain.
“If Roque Santa Cruz had stayed on the team, I have no doubt that we could have beaten Germany in 2002. The Germans were scared. When Santa Cruz left, we lost offensive power. We always had top players. That elimination hurt me,” he said.
He said that the moment that suffered him the most emotionally was after the elimination against France in the France 98 World Cup due to a golden goal.
Final message: confidence in Albirroja
The former goalkeeper also responded to the coach’s statements Gustavo Alfarowho suggested that the Paraguay squad could be at a disadvantage against teams with more World Cup experience.
He said that the Albirroja has better players than other teams and gave Australia as an example, with which the Paraguayan National Team tied 0-0 on the third date of the group stage.
Read more: Gustavo Alfaro to Chilavert: “Instead of being a sniper, he would have called me”
Chilavert closed with a message of confidence: “Paraguayan players must know that they are not carrying a heavy backpack. This is football, they have to play, do what they know how to do, show that they are great professionals and let them know that two Turks are not worth what the Paraguayan team is worth, that they are the best and that the entire country is with them and that we are going to defeat Germany,” he concluded.
