World Cup | Germany 1 - Paraguay | Paraguay progress on penalties

Four-time winners Germany are out of the 2026 World Cup

They lost to Paraguay in a dramatic penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw after extra time.

Author | Ed

Stadium | Boston Stadium

Arsenal forward Kai Havertz and Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade both saw their penalties saved by goalkeeper Orlando Gill.

Paraguay were handed two opportunities to seal victory but Antonio Sanabria fired wide before Fabian Balbuena's effort was kept out by the evergreen 40-year-old Manuel Neuer.

In sudden death, Jonathan Tah blazed his penalty over the bar before defender Jose Canale calmly converted the decisive spot-kick to secure a 4-3 shootout victory and send Paraguay into the quarter-finals.

A closer analysis of what happened

Earlier, former Brighton and Ipswich forward Julio Enciso had given Paraguay a surprise lead with a header in the 42nd minute.

Germany responded with far greater urgency after the break and levelled when Havertz glanced home a header from a pinpoint cross by Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz.

Paraguay defended resolutely to force extra time, although Germany believed they had found a winner when Tah headed into the net, only for the effort to be ruled out after Waldemar Anton was judged to have fouled Gill.

Germany took the first penalty in the shootout but never held the advantage after Havertz missed the opening kick and Woltemade was also denied. Paraguay squandered two chances to finish the contest before taking the third, with the impressive Canale holding his nerve to spark jubilant celebrations.