Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann has 'nothing to prove' ahead of Paraguay World Cup meeting

The match marks Germany's first knockout fixture at the World Cup in 12 years, with Nagelsmann under pressure to deliver after previous early exits in 2018 and 2022. However, the 38-year-old coach remains focused on guiding his players rather than answering his critics.

"It is only about the team and success," Nagelsmann said ahead of Monday's match. "To bring onto the pitch the good atmosphere we have as a group. I don't feel I have to prove anything apart from helping my players and preparing them for the game."

Germany entered the tournament in strong form, winning nine consecutive matches before arriving at the World Cup. They opened their Group E campaign with a dominant 7-1 victory over Curacao before securing top spot with a late win against Ivory Coast.

Their momentum was halted by a surprise 2-1 defeat to Ecuador in their final group match, although the result had no impact on their qualification position. The loss, however, increased scrutiny on Nagelsmann and his decisions.

The German coach has faced criticism for keeping top scorer Deniz Undav on the bench from the start of all three group games, despite the forward making a major impact with three goals and two assists as a substitute. Nagelsmann has also been questioned over his continued faith in players such as Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz despite inconsistent form.

But Nagelsmann said managing expectations was part of the job of leading Germany.

"It is always about winning when talking about the national team, trying to win every game," he explained. "How you deal with expectations is just self-confidence and giving the players a good plan so they feel comfortable and do the right things on the pitch."

Paraguay reached the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams in the expanded 48-team tournament and entered the match as underdogs. However, Nagelsmann warned his team against underestimating their opponents.

"They are a very uncomfortable opponent who will demand a lot from us," he said.

Germany face Paraguay on Monday at Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium) in Foxborough, Massachusetts.