Gary Lineker calls current Germany side 'one of the weakest I've ever seen' as they prepare for Paraguay in World Cup last 16

Lineker's scathing assessment

Gary Lineker, the former England striker and now pundit, has delivered a blunt verdict on the German national team ahead of their World Cup round of 16 match against Paraguay. In an interview with French sports daily L'Équipe, he called the current side "one of the weakest German national teams I have ever seen." Lineker argued that Germany "lives in the past," pointing to group-stage exits at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. He predicted that if Germany face France in the quarter-finals, Didier Deschamps' team would advance "without any problem" and that French fans could "sleep soundly."

“I think, though I could be wrong, that this is one of the weakest German national teams I have ever seen. France can qualify for the quarter-finals without any problem.”

Lineker also updated his famous quip that football is a simple game and "in the end the Germans win." Since 2022, he has added the caveat: "if they get through the group stage." This year, Germany have done that for the first time since their 2014 triumph.

Havertz fires back

Kai Havertz, the German striker who plays for Arsenal in England, was unmoved by the criticism. Speaking at a DFB press conference on Sunday, he said: "Everyone can have their opinion. I think nobody really listens to that. We already have many experts in our own country, when it starts in other countries too, then at some point it's enough. It's always easy to bash us from outside. But it really doesn't interest me at all."

“Everyone can have their opinion. I think nobody really listens to that. We already have many experts in our own country, when it starts in other countries too, then at some point it's enough. It's always easy to bash us from outside. But it really doesn't interest me at all.”

Havertz is banking on his record of delivering in big matches, having scored in Champions League finals for both Chelsea and Arsenal. He is the only player in the current squad with World Cup goals prior to this tournament (two).

Match day in Boston

The German team's schedule for the Paraguay clash is tightly choreographed. Breakfast runs until 10:00 at the team hotel, followed by a set-piece meeting and light activation at 10:15. The pre-match meal is at 13:00, after which the final briefing takes place before the squad departs for Boston Stadium. Kick-off is at 16:30 local time (22:30 CEST). After the match, the team will fly back to their base in Winston-Salem, with the return flight planned for 21:30.

Coach Julian Nagelsmann hinted at possible tactical changes, having previously only altered the lineup due to injuries (Nico Schlotterbeck, Nathaniel Brown) during the group stage. He promised "total commitment" from his players.

The France threat

Should Germany beat Paraguay, a quarter-final against France looms on Saturday at 23:00 in Philadelphia, provided France overcome Sweden. Lineker sees France as the tournament favourite, praising Deschamps as the most qualified coach in the field. He even floated a potential final rematch of the 2022 showpiece between France and Argentina.

A team living in the past?

Lineker's remarks tap into a narrative of German decline. The 2014 world champions failed to survive the group stage in 2018 and 2022. Reaching the last 16 this year is a modest step forward, but the Englishman's words will add pressure on Nagelsmann's young squad to prove they belong among the elite once more.