World Cup: Paraguay shock Germany, eliminate them on penalties
By Lutta Njomo, June 30, 2026Germany have been eliminated from the FIFA World Cup 2026 by Paraguay in a nail-biting sudden-death penalty shootout.
Paraguay pulled off a monumental upset of Germany after José Canale successfully converted his penalty kick following Jonathan Tah’s miss to send them into the round of 16 on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
Orlando Gill repelled two penalties in it to leave the Paraguayans all but through, only for Manuel Neuer to inspire a remarkable fightback. However, Canale kept his cool when it mattered the most to send Gustavo Alfaro’s charges through.
Paraguay, who had never won a World Cup knockout match before, will now face either France or Sweden in Philadelphia on July 4, 2026, for a place in the quarter-finals.
Earlier proceedings
The game went to extra time after Kai Havertz’s header cancelled out Julio Enciso’s surprise opener, with Tah then seeing a header controversially ruled out by VAR during extra time.
Gustavo Alfaro’s charges defended well throughout the proceedings to neutralise attacking threats posed by Leroy Sané, Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz.
Goalkeeper Orlando Gill was key to the Paraguay side as he remained comfortable between the sticks despite his side ceding the lion’s share of possession to the German machines.
Paraguay came alive through a corner kick in the first half, which was punched by Manuel Neuer, but Paraguay recycled the ball before Matias Galarza swung in a beautiful cross that a wide-open Julio Enciso headed home.
Just like Brazil, who came back in the second half against Japan in the earlier clash, Germany quickly levelled after the break through Havertz, who headed in a cross from Wirtz on the left wing.
As the second half progressed, Germany pushed for a winner while the notorious Paraguay side sat deeper and deeper, waiting for a counterattacking opportunity that never came.
Julian Nagelsmann threw on all of his attacking options in an effort to avoid penalties, and Germany thought they had scored the winner through Tah, however, the goal was called back for a foul by Waldemar Anton on Gill.
After the 120 minutes, Havertz stepped up to take the first penalty, and Gill proved his goalkeeping prowess by keeping it out, setting Paraguay for a bright start. However, Alfaro’s men nearly suffered a heartbreak after their players threw away two important penalties to keep Germany alive in the shootout.
Just like Gabriel Magalhães, who skied an important penalty to deny Arsenal their Champions League victory against PSG, Tah sent the ball over the bar.