Paraguay Pulls Off a Sensational Upset

LIVE: Germany Starts with Undav Up Front

World Cup upset! Germany has already been eliminated in the Round of 32.(Bild: AFP/ODD ANDERSEN)

Out of the World Cup! Germany lost a true penalty shootout thriller against Paraguay and has already been eliminated in the Round of 32.

The German national team lost 3–4 to Paraguay in a penalty shootout on Monday in Foxborough, near Boston. After regulation and extra time, the score was tied 1–1 in front of 63,495 spectators, with goals from Julio Enciso (42') and Kai Havertz (54').

(Bild: AP/Mark Stockwell)

In the penalty shootout, Paraguay’s goalkeeper Orlando Gill made saves on shots by Havertz and Nick Woltemade, and Jonathan Tah also sent the ball over the bar. For the winners, missed attempts by Antonio Sanabria (wide) and Fabian Balbuena (saved) did not matter, as Jose Canale kept his cool as the final shooter.

This marked the South Americans’ first World Cup knockout-round victory since reaching the quarterfinals in 2010, and they will now face either top favorite France or Sweden in the Round of 16 on July 4 in Philadelphia. For the Germans, this marked their first loss in a World Cup penalty shootout.

(Bild: AFP/MEGAN BRIGGS)

Enciso heads it in unmarked
The Germans, with striker Deniz Undav in the starting lineup, had significantly more possession but were unable to capitalize on it at all before halftime. The ball moved far too slowly, and they lacked creativity, so Gill didn’t have to make a single save for the time being. The underdog, by contrast, managed to create only one offensive opportunity, but that was enough to take the lead out of nowhere. A cross following a corner was cleared only briefly by Manuel Neuer, found its way back into the penalty area via a series of deflections, where the 22-year-old Strasbourg striker Enciso headed it in unmarked from eight meters out.

(Bild: AFP/CHARLY TRIBALLEAU)

A chance to equalize came about only by luck, as a cross from Felix Nmecha was nearly deflected into his own net by Canale (45+2). The German national team struggled to find their rhythm in the opening minutes after the restart; an unusually high number of passing errors marred the game and nearly led to a quick 0–2 deficit.

(Bild: AP/Petr David Josek)

After a botched backpass by Kimmich, Neuer managed to make a last-ditch save in a one-on-one with Enciso (50'). At the other end, the Germans capitalized on their very first chance. Havertz flicked on a Wirtz cross with the back of his head, sending it right into the corner. It was his fifth goal in his last five World Cup matches, and his third in this tournament.

(Bild: AP/Mark Stockwell)

Premature celebration over the winning goal
After that, a second German goal seemed likely. Canale tested his own goalkeeper with a header back following a Sane cross (74'). Gill also made a good save on a close-range header by Havertz (78'). As a result, the match went into extra time, during which almost all the action took place in Paraguay’s half.

(Bild: AP/Petr David Josek)

In the 102nd minute, Germany’s Jonathan Tah celebrated too early after scoring what appeared to be the winning goal with a header off a Brown corner kick. After a video review, the goal was disallowed due to an alleged foul by Waldemar Anton on goalkeeper Gill—a wrong call. Anton then squandered the match-winning chance, heading the ball straight into Gill’s hands from four meters out (119th minute).

That came back to haunt them in the penalty shootout, where the underdog kept their nerves better in check. DFB head coach Julian Nagelsmann, whose team had already lost to Ecuador (1–2) in their final group stage match, will now face even more criticism.