Coach Gustavo Alfaro urges his players to seize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as Paraguay prepare to face four-time champions Germany in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32.

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Paraguay are aiming to produce one of the biggest shocks of the FIFA World Cup when they take on Germany in the Round of 32 on Monday. Head coach Gustavo Alfaro has urged his players to embrace the moment, describing the knockout clash as a “life-changing” opportunity against one of football’s most successful nations.

The South American side showed tremendous character to reach the knockout stages after recovering from a 4-1 defeat to co-hosts the United States in their opening group match. Paraguay eventually progressed as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams, reaching the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time since 2002.

Germany, meanwhile, topped Group E but have not looked unbeatable. The four-time world champions suffered a defeat to Ecuador in their final group-stage game and also needed a late winner to edge past Ivory Coast, giving Paraguay hope that an upset is possible.

Speaking before the match, Alfaro acknowledged Germany’s quality but insisted his team would leave everything on the pitch. He called the fixture a special challenge and believes his players have earned the right to compete on the biggest stage after overcoming several setbacks.

Alfaro, who took charge following Paraguay’s disappointing 2024 Copa America campaign, praised the resilience shown by his squad throughout the tournament. After a goalless draw with Australia, Paraguay had to wait several days before their qualification was confirmed, leaving them with limited time to prepare for Germany.

Despite the short turnaround, the Argentine coach expressed complete faith in his players. He said the team has repeatedly responded well in difficult situations and believes they are mentally prepared for another tough test.

Alfaro also reminded his squad to appreciate the significance of playing in a FIFA World Cup, saying that only a select group of players ever get the opportunity to compete on football’s biggest stage. According to him, making the most of the experience can have a lasting impact on both their careers and their lives.

The winners of the Paraguay vs Germany clash in Boston are likely to face another major challenge in the next round, with France expected to be their opponents if Les Bleus defeat Sweden. However, Paraguay’s immediate focus remains on creating history by eliminating one of the tournament favourites.