EFC Brief

Six EFC-linked names dot the Germany sheet, but the one to circle is Kai Havertz, the kind of versatile forward Everton supporters have long admired from afar. Around him, Manuel Neuer brings his commanding presence in goal, Antonio Rüdiger and Joshua Kimmich anchor the spine, and Leroy Sané offers the pace out wide. Felix Nmecha rounds out a German contingent that gives this fixture genuine Toffee-tinted weight. Paraguay's EFC interest rests on a single, familiar figure: Miguel Almirón, a player whose energy and directness have made him a recognisable face across the Premier League years. He carries the lone-watcher's burden here, outnumbered six to one in terms of Everton-flavoured connections. With confirmed lineups in hand, the shape of the contest is set. For neutrals scanning for blue threads, Germany is the side to follow — but keep an eye on Almirón, who tends to make himself impossible to ignore.