Germany’s sporting director Rudi Völler expressed confidence ahead of the team’s upcoming Round of 32 World Cup match against Paraguay, despite their recent 2-1 loss to Ecuador. The defeat on Thursday, which did not affect Germany’s status as group winners, has not diminished Völler’s faith in the squad’s ability to advance in the tournament.

Speaking on Saturday, Völler emphasized the importance of the knockout stage, describing it as a decisive phase where everything is at stake. “Now the World Cup is really getting started,” he said. “There’s a belief that we can get everything out of ourselves, that we’ll go absolutely to the limit, play a really good game, and of course advance to the next round.” He noted that the upcoming match against Paraguay will differ significantly from the group stage in its intensity and consequences.

Völler also highlighted the need for key attacking players Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, and Florian Wirtz to elevate their performances. While the team’s group-stage success offers buoyancy, the focus remains solely on the immediate challenge as Germany looks to avoid elimination.

Should Germany overcome Paraguay in the knockout round, they could face a series of formidable opponents, including France in the Round of 16, Brazil in the quarter-finals, and Spain in the semi-finals. Völler stopped short of looking too far ahead, underscoring the priority of concentrating on Monday’s match and the immediate task at hand.