Paraguay brace for France as Dugarry calls a rout

France on Saturday, and they are already talking

Your team faces France in the round of 16 on Saturday, July 4 (3) (6). The French camp is confident. Christophe Dugarry went further: "Le Paraguay va prendre une rouste!", Paraguay is going to get beaten soundly (8). He said it on RMC, and it is exactly the kind of line that gets pinned to a dressing room wall.

Kroos says Germany lack world-class players

Toni Kroos did not sugarcoat it. After your team eliminated Germany, he said the current squad has no world-class player (2). He did not name Paraguay directly, but the timing is everything. The result forced that conversation.

Neuer retires, and another German follows

Manuel Neuer is done with the national team. Sixteen years, and your team handed him the exit. "Este desenlace duele muchísimo", this outcome hurts immensely, he said (9). A second German player has also announced his international retirement after the Paraguay defeat, according to reports out of Mexico (4). Your team ended an era.

Germany are already asking about Klopp

Kicker ran a poll asking whether Jürgen Klopp should replace Julian Nagelsmann (7). That is what losing to Paraguay does to a football nation.

Mbappé and France trained in 36°C heat

France held a session in 36-degree heat ahead of Saturday, and Kylian Mbappé was visibly surprised by the conditions (5). Deschamps is preparing them for the worst, but your players know this weather.

Fan reactions

The mood online is shifting. One popular thread on r/worldcup argues the expanded tournament is proving the skill gap between teams is shrinking, and Paraguay beating Germany is exhibit A. Fans are pointing to this result as evidence the old hierarchy does not hold anymore. Read the full thread.