Jamal Musiala, the Bayern Munich midfielder and one of football’s brightest young talents, was unexpectedly left out of Germany’s starting lineup for their round of 32 World Cup match against Paraguay. This decision by Germany’s head coach, Julian Nagelsmann, marks a significant tactical shift ahead of the crucial knockout fixture.
Having been a consistent presence in the national team since his debut in 2021, Musiala’s recent form has been hindered by a recovery process following a broken ankle sustained during the 2025 Club World Cup. Despite starting in all three of Germany’s group stage matches this summer, the 23-year-old has now been replaced by the in-form forward Deniz Undav, who has impressed as a substitute throughout the tournament.
Germany’s squad adjustments ahead of Paraguay clash
Germany entered the World Cup with a commanding 7-1 victory over Curaçao, followed by a hard-fought 2-1 win against Côte d’Ivoire that secured their position at the top of the group. However, a 2-1 loss to Ecuador in their final group match tempered expectations heading into the knockout rounds.
One of the tournament’s surprise performers for Germany has been striker Deniz Undav, who has netted three goals in just three substitute appearances. This scoring streak earned him a starting role against Paraguay, directly replacing Musiala in the lineup.
The confirmed Germany starting lineup for the match reads as follows: Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, Brown; Nmecha, Pavlovic; Sane, Undav, Wirtz; Havertz.