Paraguay stun Germany on penalties to reach World Cup last 16
Paraguay produced one of the biggest shocks of the World Cup by eliminating Germany on penalties after a 1-1 draw following extra time. The South American side advanced to the round of 16 after a tense shootout that ended the four-time champions' campaign. The result was sealed on Monday and immediately stood out as a major upset in the group stage.
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Goalkeeper Orlando Gill was central to the outcome, saving the efforts of Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade before Jonathan Tah sent his attempt over the bar. That opened the door for Jose Canale to score the decisive penalty and complete Paraguay's victory. Gill later said it was difficult to describe the result in words and said his team had resisted pressure throughout a challenging match.
The defeat was Germany's first loss in a World Cup penalty shootout. It also meant the four-time winners were eliminated in the group stage, a rare and damaging outcome for one of the tournament's most successful teams. Paraguay, described in the report as 5-to-1 underdogs, celebrated a place in the last 16 after holding firm until the 120th minute.
The result matters because it changes the balance of the knockout stage and underlines how unpredictable the tournament has become. For Paraguay, it is a landmark victory that may rank among the country's greatest football achievements. For Germany, it is a setback that will prompt scrutiny of how a leading side was unable to turn pressure into progress.
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The report linked Paraguay's success to coach Alfaro's trust in his defenders, saying the team built its performance on discipline and resilience. That approach helped them absorb sustained pressure and stay level through extra time. The shootout then rewarded a side that had already shown it could survive against stronger opposition.
There is also historical weight to the result for Paraguay. The report recalled the country's 1998 last-16 meeting with France, when a late golden goal ended hopes of a penalty shootout. Twenty-eight years later, Paraguay finally found the outcome that had eluded that earlier generation, turning a long-standing near miss into a breakthrough.
Gill's own record as a penalty stopper added another layer to the story. The goalkeeper had saved two penalties for San Lorenzo in a shootout against River Plate in May and had also made a decisive save in a quarter-final against Argentinos Juniors last year. His performance on the World Cup stage now gives Paraguay a proven match-winner heading into the next round.
What remains unclear is how Germany will respond after such an early exit and whether Paraguay can carry this momentum further. Their next match is scheduled for Saturday in Philadelphia against France or Sweden, according to the report. The scale of the upset ensures the result will be closely watched as the tournament continues.
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