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World Cup upset: Paraguay eliminate Germany after stunning penalty shootout

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Four time World Cup winners Germany are out of the 2026 edition of the tournament after a shocking defeat against Paraguay after penalties. The South American side made history and won 4-3 after the penalty shootout, following a tense 1-1 draw over 120 minutes at Gillette Stadium. The side coached by Julian Nagelsmann struggled to dominate the match against Paraguay's disciplined defense and the South Americans scored before halftime when Julio Enciso notched the opening goal of the day, giving Paraguay a surprise 1-0 lead. Germany responded after halftime, with a Kai Havertz header from Florian Wirtz's cross to level the score at 1-1. 

Germany controlled the game from then on and pushed relentlessly for a winner, but Orlando Gill produced several important saves to keep Paraguay alive in regular time. The European giants also thought they won it all in the second half of extra time when Jonathan Tah scored to make it 2-1 from a corner kick before VAR overturned the decision following Waldemar Anton's foul on Gill. 

The tie was decided in a penalty shootout, with Orlando Gill emerging as Paraguay's hero after saving spot-kicks from Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade. Manuel Neuer kept Germany's hopes alive by saving a key penalty as well after Toni Sanabria's miss, sending the shootout into sudden death, but Jonathan Tah's mistake, skying his attempt over the goal, proved decisive, allowing Jose Canale to convert the winning penalty. Paraguay advance to the round of 16, where they will face the winner of Tuesday's clash between France and Sweden.

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HISTORY MADE: PARAGUAY ELIMINATE GERMANY

It has been a crazy end of the match: Paraguay eliminated Germany at the penalties!! This is historical! 

 
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Germany 3, Paraguay 4: PARAGUAY WIN AT PENALTIES

 
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Germany 3, Paraguay 3: Tah misses!

I quit, really? Jonathan misses! Paraguay has another chance!!! 

 
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Germany 3, Paraguay 3: NEUER SAVES!

WHAT IS GOING ON??? MANUEL NEUER SAVED GERMANY AND IT'S NOT OVER NOW! WE GO FOR THE SIXTH PENALTY! 

 
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Germany 3, Paraguay 3: Amir levels!

It's 3-3 now: Germany score and there is still hope now! 

 
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Germany 2, Paraguay 3: Sanabria missed it!

Noooooo way! Toni Sanabria missed the penalty! It's still 3-2. 

 
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Germany 2, Paraguay 3: Woltemade missed it!

HUGE MISTAKE BY WOLTEMADE: PARAGUAY CAN WIN IF THEY SCORE!!! 

 
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Germany 2, Paraguay 3: Galarza scores

A perfect penalty by Galarza: 3-2 for Paraguay. 

 
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Germany 2, Paraguay 2: Musiala scores

Gill was close to make another save here but Musiala makes it 2-2. 

 
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Germany 1, Paraguay 2: Gomez scores

Paraguay is still ahead after two penalties for each team. Musiala up next. 

 
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Germany 1, Paraguay 1: Kimmich makes it

Great penalty by Kimmich. 1-1 but Paraguay still have to shoot the second penalty. 

 
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Germany 0, Paraguay 1: Mauricio scores

Great penalty by Mauricio: Neuer couldn't save this one. 

 
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Germany 0, Paraguay 0: Gill saved it!

Huge miss by Kai Havertz as he missed the first penalty. 

 
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PENALTIES!

120 minutes were not enough for Germany to beat Paraguay, despite also having two late chances in the second extra time. The round of 32 will be decided at penalties. This wasn't expected at all! 

 
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10 minutes left

112' Less than 10 minutes and it will be penalties here! Both teams looked quiet tired now. 

 
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VAR denied the 2-1

105' Germany thought they had found the winner as Jonathan Tah headed home from a corner, but the celebrations were cut shortly after. After a VAR review, the goal was ruled out because Waldemar Anton was judged to have impeded Paraguay goalkeeper Gill, preventing him from making a save. It remains 1-1. 

 
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Germany are pushing now

100' Germany are increasing the pressure and appealed for a penalty after Woltemade's shot appeared to strike a defender's arm, but the referee waved play on. Paraguay, however, continue to hold firm.

 
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It's extra time!

90' It's 1-1 at the end of the 90 minutes: Germany were unable to find a winner before the end of regular time, meaning the match will now go to extra time. If the sides still cannot win after the additional 30 minutes, the tie will be decided by a penalty shootout.

 
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What a save!

78' Havertz had a big chance here to score the 2-1 but Gill made a key save and prevented the German striker to score the winning goal here! Huge moment. 

 
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We're in the last quarter

73' The last quarter of the match started after the hydration break. Germany now seem more confident to get another goal before the final whistle and the extra time... 

 
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Double change for Paraguay

57' Coach Alfaro is forced to make two changes and these might have an impact on the game as Julio Enciso, probably one of the best ones on the pitch, was replaced due to a muscular injury and replaced by Mauricio.  

 
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Havertz makes it 1-1

54' It's 1-1 now! Germany are back. Kai Havertz powered a header past Gill after an excellent cross from Florian Wirtz, making it 1-1. It was Germany's first genuine opportunity of the second half, and they scored. This is what they needed! 

 
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Goretzka in

46' Germany make one change with Leon Goretzka starting the second half instead of Felix Nmecha. 

 
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Two chances for Germany before the break

HT: Germany had the two best chances of the first half just before the break of the first half. Nmecha's effort was deflected behind for a corner, while Kimmich's shot was comfortably saved by Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill. It remains 0-0 at the break.

 
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GOAL: PARAGUAY SCORE!

40' Wait whaaaaaat? Paraguay are ahead! First ever goal at the knockout stages for Paraguay and this is a big one against Germany. The South Americans scored the opening goal with a great header of Julio Enciso and a nice assist from Atlanta's Matias Galarza. 

 
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What's going on?

40' Yes, I'm still here. The problem is that this first half has been far from entertaining. Germany have dominated possession but are struggling to break down Paraguay's well-organized defense, creating very little in the final third. At the same time, Paraguay have found it difficult to keep hold of the ball for any meaningful period, leaving them unable to build attacks or pose any real threat to the German back line in the last 20 minutes. 

 
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Spoke too soon..

20' Let's say that I definitely spoke too soon. The game has lost some of its early spark, with no real chances created in the last ten minutes. Paraguay have done an excellent job of containing Germany, who are dominating possession and controlling the tempo but still struggling with no shots on target so far.

 
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Nice start

8' We've already had two promising chances in the opening minutes of the match. Paraguay won an early corner before Germany showed their attacking quality through Kai Havertz. There have been no shots on target yet, but it's been an entertaining start. Germany have just come close again, only for Canale to produce a crucial save and keep the score level.

 
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It's time!

The teams are on the pitch and the game is about to start: Here we go! 

 
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Who's next?

The winner of this round of 32 tie will meet the winner of the match between France and Sweden at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on July 5. 

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