Paraguay are back on the world stage for the first time since 2010, and they have wasted no time in making their presence felt — stunning Germany in one of the early surprises of the tournament.

The return itself was already a milestone for a nation that had been absent from the World Cup for 15 years, but Paraguay have gone further than simply showing up. Their result against Germany announced to the rest of the competition that they intend to be a genuine force at this tournament.

A daunting task against France

Having dealt with one European giant, Paraguay now face an even sterner test. They are set to square off against France, who arrive at the fixture in strong form and carrying the weight of expectation that comes with being among the pre-tournament favourites.

France enter the match having impressed in their opening games, and manager's side will demand every ounce of quality Paraguay can summon if they are to repeat the kind of performance that shocked Germany.

Nevertheless, Paraguay's players and fans will draw confidence from what has already been achieved. A squad that had to fight its way back onto the global stage has already proved capable of matching elite opposition.

More than the result

Whatever the final scoreline against France, Paraguay's return to the World Cup has already carried significance well beyond the pitch. For a footballing nation that spent over a decade in the shadows of the tournament, simply qualifying again was an achievement — competing at this level, and beating Germany along the way, is something else entirely.

The story of Paraguay at this World Cup is one of resilience and ambition. Regardless of what follows against France, the foundations of something meaningful have been laid — and the football world is paying attention.