Paraguay secured a significant victory against Germany in the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 32, marking the first time Germany has lost a penalty shootout in the tournament’s history. The match concluded with a 4-3 penalty shootout score, following a period where Germany had seemingly regained momentum after initially facing a disadvantage.
During the shootout, Germany had appeared to recover when Antonio Sanabria missed his penalty and Manuel Neuer saved a shot from Fabian Balbuena, bringing the score to 3-3. However, Jonathan Tah, a center-back who had not previously taken a penalty in regular play for his club or national team, missed his attempt. Jose Canale of Paraguay then successfully converted his penalty, securing the win for his team.
Shootout Details and Key Moments
The shootout began with Germany captain Joshua Kimmich electing to shoot first and towards the German fans. Kai Havertz, an Arsenal striker with a strong penalty record, took the first shot for Germany. He was made to wait for an extended period by the referee before taking his penalty. This delay, coupled with the actions of Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill, may have influenced Havertz’s attempt. Gill saved Havertz’s shot, which lacked power and was placed off target.
Palmeiras midfielder Mauricio then scored for Paraguay, despite Neuer guessing the correct direction. Kimmich responded by scoring for Germany, using a long run-up and a pause that caused Gill to move early. Gustavo Gomez, Paraguay’s captain, also scored, deceiving Neuer with a finessed shot rather than a powerful strike. Jamal Musiala then scored for Germany with a well-placed shot into the bottom right corner.
Matias Galarza scored for Paraguay, sending Neuer the wrong way by shifting his body weight to create a deceptive movement. Nick Woltemade then missed for Germany, with Gill remaining patient and not indicating his intended dive. This sequence of events ultimately led to Paraguay’s victory.
Historical Context of German World Cup Upsets
This defeat marks a significant moment in Germany’s World Cup history, as they had previously maintained an unbeaten record in penalty shootouts at this level. Their past shootout victories include matches against France in 1982, Mexico in 1986, England in 1990, and Argentina in 2006. The last German player to miss a penalty in a World Cup shootout before this match was Uli Stielike against France 44 years ago, ending a streak of 15 consecutive successful German penalties in World Cup shootouts.
The match is now considered one of the top World Cup knockout upsets. Other notable upsets include Bulgaria’s 2-1 victory over Germany in the 1994 quarterfinals and South Korea’s 2-1 golden goal win against Italy in the 2002 round of 16. The 2014 World Cup also saw Germany defeat Brazil 7-1 in the semifinals, while Morocco beat Portugal 1-0 in the 2022 quarterfinals.
Orlando Gill, the Paraguay goalkeeper, dedicated the victory to his nephew. Gill, who plays for San Lorenzo in Argentina, made his international debut in September’s qualifiers and had faced criticism earlier in the tournament following a 4-1 defeat by the United States. Paraguay manager Gustavo Alfaro expressed confidence in Gill, noting his development and solid performances.
Read Also
Source: nytimes.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.