Paraguay stare at early World Cup exit ahead of Turkey showdown

Saturday. Turkey. Your World Cup is on the line.

Paraguay face Turkey on Saturday, June 20, in the second Group D match, and after the 4–1 loss to the USA there is no room left (1)(2). Garnero's side conceded four unanswered after taking the lead against the Americans. The defensive shape broke under quick transitions, and the same fragility cannot show up again.

Riveros names the three Turkey players you have to stop

Cristian Riveros, the former Paraguay midfielder, spoke ahead of the match and was direct: stop Arda Güler, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, and Kenan Yıldız (3). Those three carry Turkey's attacking threat, and Riveros was clear that Paraguay's game plan has to begin with shutting them down.

Turkey are not coming in cautious

Hürriyet's pre-match report describes the Turkish camp with one phrase: no pessimism, just big ambition and a sharp edge (4). Turkey know a win puts them on the brink of the knockout rounds. Paraguay are walking into a motivated opponent, not one sitting back.