Diego Gómez is accustomed to the rhythm of the English Premier League and its demands for quick decision-making, whereas Riley McGree is an experienced organizer in a championship where ball-processing time is somewhat more generous. The Paraguayan is distinguished by youthful boldness in building attacks, the Australian by composure in controlling the tempo. On this part of the pitch, it will be decided who will impose their rhythm on the match.

A meeting of two veterans on whom their teams' defenses rest: a defender from English Championship against a goalkeeper from Spanish La Liga. Alderete is accustomed to physical pressing and the directness of British football, whereas Ryan has accumulated experience in a system where the goalkeeper is an active participant in positional play. On this part of the pitch, it will be decided how synchronously the Australian defense will read the game of Paraguay's attacking players.

Alfaro comes with experience working in different regions of the Americas and fresh success in qualifying, where he raised Paraguay to a level unseen in a decade. Popovic is a man of the system, grown in Australian football and having brought clear discipline to the national team after a change in leadership. A meeting of two philosophies: Latin American adaptability against Anglo-Australian organization.