Germany is aiming to build on its strong start in the 2026 World Cup, with sporting director Rudi Voller expressing confidence that the national team is prepared to push its limits in pursuit of another tournament title. It has been 12 years since Germany last secured the World Cup, marking their fourth championship overall, with Voller himself part of the victorious 1990 squad.

Having topped their group with a game to spare, Germany is set to face Paraguay in the Round of 32 match scheduled for the evening. A victory would set up a clash with the winner of the France versus Sweden fixture. Voller acknowledged the team’s solid performance in the group stage but emphasized the squad remains focused on continuous improvement as the tournament advances.

“Before the tournament, we would have been delighted to qualify for the next round as group winners after only two games,” Voller commented. “We deserved to achieve exactly that and were obviously very pleased. At the same time, we know how to put winning the group into perspective.”

Despite securing progression early, Germany’s 1-0 loss to Ecuador in the final group match was unexpected. Voller noted the team’s determination even when faced with challenges but highlighted areas needing attention. “In the second and third games, however, we gave the ball away unnecessarily in midfield when looking to go forward. We cannot afford to make those errors in crucial areas,” he said.

The German squad, under the management of Julian Nagelsmann, now turns its full attention to the knockout stage, where the level of competition is expected to intensify. Voller remains optimistic about the team’s prospects, emphasizing the importance of delivering a strong performance against Paraguay to advance further in the tournament.

“With the World Cup really getting going now, our full focus is on Paraguay. We believe that we will give it our best and push ourselves to the limit,” Voller added. “We want to deliver a really strong showing and reach the next round.”