The hosts, Brazil, kicks off the quarterfinals against Paraguay. Paraguay squaked into the knockout rounds after Japan and Ecuador ended in a draw and Paraguay had a better (less bad) GD than Japan. Paraguay did not look like the 8th best team in the tournament, but here they are. Miguel Almiron pulls the strings for them and they’ll hope to pull off a surprise.
Paraguay has not been one to just sit back and absorb pressure, though Qatar and Argentina out-possessed them. Brazil averaged 71% possession in the group stages and they will try and do it again.