Defeated Germany in the round of 16, Paraguay is not making a big deal out of its confrontation against the Blues on Saturday in the round of 16. “We can beat anyone. » This is the message broadcast for four days by Gustafo Alvaro’s players and their supporters.
And if the French team has made a (very) strong impression since the opening of the World Cup, in particular thanks to its offensive strike force, the Guarani will be able to count on a strong ally: the extreme heat which will rage this weekend in Philadelphia. For the Paraguayans, there is no doubt that the weather conditions will serve their purposes. The local press clearly sees this as a reason for optimism, hoping that this extreme climate will become the twelfth man of the Albirroja.
“Like at home.” The newspaper Crónica
sums up the general feeling perfectly. The journalists recall with a touch of mischief that the Paraguayan people and their players are historically accustomed to playing in stifling heat in Asunción (at the Defensores del Chaco stadium). For them, this expected temperature of nearly 39°C at Lincoln Financial Field will not be a thermal shock, but a familiar environment.
“An unexpected ally”
Media like RCC Deportes openly describe this heat wave as “unexpected ally » which coach Gustavo Alfaro intends to exploit to asphyxiate and physically wear out the French team. The tactical plan promises to be ultra-demanding, with the press emphasizing that the team is undergoing intense training sessions in full sun at the University of Pennsylvania to be fully acclimatized.
The Paraguayan press is also amused by the reactions of French players to American climatic conditions.
Crónica notes in particular the statements of Kylian Mbappé after the previous match against Sweden, where he admitted that he could only wait to rush to the locker room to take advantage of the air conditioning. The fact that the Philadelphia stadium is entirely open and not air-conditioned is seen by Paraguayan analysts as a huge black point for French organizations.
