Paraguay have already given this World Cup one of its proper heart-in-mouth stories. Gustavo Alfaro’s side were supposed to be done after facing Germany, yet they dug in, suffered, survived and somehow walked out with a place in the next round. Football can be cruel, but sometimes it is beautifully strange.
Still, there is a difference between one knockout ambush and repeating it against France. Didier Deschamps’ team look built for these nights, mixing control in midfield with frightening pace around the box. They don’t always need long spells of dominance. Sometimes, one pass, one burst, one finish is enough.
The tactical shape matters here. Paraguay are expected to sit in a 4-1-4-1, with Cubas protecting the defence and Enciso trying to turn rare transitions into something dangerous. France’s 4-2-3-1 should give them more natural width, while Olise can float inside and pull defenders out of their comfort zone.
Paraguay’s best route is probably frustration. Slow the game, win fouls, keep the crowd restless and make France deal with heat, pressure and impatience. That said, if France score first, the entire rhythm changes. Paraguay are far less comfortable when asked to chase, especially against elite transition players.
This feels like a match where France gradually squeeze the pitch rather than explode from the first whistle. Paraguay’s spirit is real, no doubt. But France’s attacking connections, tournament pedigree and bench options make them hard to oppose. The underdog story has bite, yet the favourite has sharper teeth.
