Paraguay delivered one of the biggest upsets of the World Cup by knocking out a star-studded Germany side 4-3 in a tense penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in the Round of 32 on Monday. The Albirroja reached the last 16 for the first time since 2010, sending shockwaves through the tournament at Foxborough.
The match was filled with drama right until the end. Germany thought they had won in extra time when Jonathan Tah headed home in the 102nd minute, but the goal was controversially disallowed after a VAR review for a foul on goalkeeper Orlando Gill. Tah later skied his penalty over the bar in the shootout, handing Paraguay a famous victory.
Orlando Gill was the hero for Paraguay, making crucial saves throughout the match and in the shootout, including stops from Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade. Manuel Neuer kept Germany alive by saving one spot kick, but Jose Canale converted the decisive penalty to send the South Americans through.
Julio Enciso gave Paraguay the lead just before halftime with a clever header from Matias Galarza’s cross. Kai Havertz equalized for Germany early in the second half with an excellent header of his own from Florian Wirtz’s delivery. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Germany could not find a winner in normal or extra time.
Paraguay defended bravely and relied on quick counter-attacks. Gill made six saves over 120 minutes, frustrating the Germans repeatedly. This result marks Germany’s earliest exit since they last won the tournament in 2014 and ends their campaign without reaching the knockout stages properly.
For Paraguay, this victory brings back memories of their strong 2010 campaign where they reached the quarter-finals. The players celebrated wildly after the final whistle while the German squad looked stunned by the outcome.
This thrilling upset proves once again that the World Cup can deliver surprises and underdog stories. Paraguay now advance to the Round of 16 with huge confidence.
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