Kai Havertz has a history of scoring crucial goals on big occasions. He has netted in two UEFA Champions League finals, bagged the winner in a FIFA Intercontinental Cup™ decider, and has an impressive tally of four goals in five matches.
On Monday, he will aim to shine in yet another high-stakes showdown when Germany face Paraguay in an intriguing last-32 tie. The match will represent Havertz’s maiden World Cup knockout match and, remarkably, Germany’s first since they won the title in 2014.
Asked by FIFA if he will be able to draw on his positive experiences in pivotal matches, he said: “In general, I just like bigger occasions. I don't know why! I just feel comfortable. I hope I can continue that streak on the biggest stage, at the World Cup. “Of course, [my confidence] comes always from the hard work, from believing in your own abilities. That's what I try to do when I go on that pitch, and I hope I can do that again."
Germany progressed to the Round of 32 as group winners, having followed up a 7-1 trouncing of Curaçao in their opening game with a 2-1 defeat of Côte d'Ivoire. They didn’t have things all their own way, though, losing out 2-1 to Ecuador in their final group match.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side are now primed for another battle with South American opposition, and Havertz expanded on the challenges he expects Paraguay to pose.
“You’ve seen [during the tournament] how hard the World Cup is," he said. “You see many big teams struggling against different nations. Against Ecuador, we saw how much quality the South American teams have. In Europe, we don't play them a lot of times. You feel the intensity, how aggressive they are on the pitch, how united they are as a team, combined with their fans.
“We will need to be at 100 per cent. Every action counts, every action is important. In the last days, you were able to see how hungry the boys are. I’m optimistic that it is going to be a very good match."
Coach Nagelsmann, meanwhile, was asked about the pressure on his team as they aim to embark on a deep run in North America. “When you talk about a German national team, it's all about trying to win every game,” he said. “To deal with expectations, it's about having good self-confidence, and [as a coach] trying to give the players a good plan so that they can feel comfortable on the pitch. We want them to be able to do the right things, show what they are, and just win the game. It's all about winning in soccer.”
On Paraguay’s strengths, he added: “They are team that defend well – they stay in a compact way. They fight for the second balls and they have strong physical presence. They are uncomfortable opponents for us. We need a perfect game.”
Sources: FIFA Official
