Paraguay vs. France Live: Team News; Koné started for the injured Tchouaméni and Paraguay tacticians in Germany
The official team sheets are here in Philadelphia, and both managers have made critical tactical tweaks for this big knockout encounter!
Lineup of France (4-2-3-1). Didier Deschamps was forced to make a major change in his engine room. Manu Koné rotates into the starting XI to replace midfield anchor Aurélien Tchouaméni, who unfortunately picked up a late injury in training. Otherwise, it’s the familiar, terrifyingly powerful French ‘Fantastic Four’ leading the line.
Goalkeeper: Mike Maignan
Defenders: Lucas Digne, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Jules Koundé
Defensive Midfielders. Manu Koné, Adrien Rabiot
Attacking Midfielders: Bradley Barcola, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé
Forward: Kylian Mbappé
French Subs: Robin Risser, Brice Samba, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernández, Théo Hernández, Ibrahima Konaté, Maxence Lacroix, N’Golo Kanté, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Maghnes Akliouche, Rayan Cherki, Désiré Doué, Jean-Philip Thuperam
Paraguay Lineup (5-3-2). Gustavo Alfaro reverted to a defensive five-man backline, switching from the 4-4-2 formation that shocked Germany. Omar Alderete returned to act as the third central defender, leaving no room for Damián Bobadilla in the middle. Diego Gómez returns from suspension in right midfield, pushing Newcastle’s Miguel Almirón forward into a dual-striker role alongside Julio Enciso, while Gabriel Ávalos drops to the bench.
Goalkeeper: Orlando Gill
Defenders: Júnior Alonso, Omar Alderete, Gustavo Gómez, Gustavo Velázquez, Blas Cáceres
Midfielders: Matías Galarza, Andrés Cubas, Diego Gómez
Forward: Julio Enciso, Miguel Almirón
Paraguayan Substitutes: Carlos Miguel Coronel, Gastón Olveira, Fabián Balbuena, José Canale, Cristian Maidana, Damián Bobadilla, Braian Ojeda, Alejandro Romero Gamarra, Maurício, Ramón Sosa, Álex Arce, Antonio Sanabria, Gabriel Ávalos, Isidro Pitta, Mauro Caballero