Incredible, Paraguay Eliminated Germany Through Penalty Drama

In the knockout phase, Paraguay managed to send Germany home. (Instagram @fifaworldcup)

JAKARTA - The Paraguay national team created a surprise by eliminating Germany in the 2026 World Cup 32-team round through a penalty shootout drama that ended 4-3 after a 1-1 draw at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA, Tuesday WIB.

The result sent Paraguay into the last 16, awaiting the winner between France vs Sweden who had just played a day later, while Germany had to go home early from the World Cup for three consecutive editions.

After Paraguay's lead goal through Julio Ensicopada the 42nd minute could be answered by Germany through Kai Havertz's header in the 54th minute, both teams spent the rest of the normal time and the extra 2x15 minutes without scoring any additional goals.

Ironically, Havertz became one of three German executioners who then failed to convert 12 passes in the penalty shootout drama with striker Nick Woltemadedan defender Jonathan Tah.

The Paraguay squad couldn't hide their joy after being confirmed to have eliminated Germany to advance to the 2026 World Cup round of 16. (Instagram @fifaworldcup)

Meanwhile, in the Paraguay camp, only Antonio Sanabri and Fabian Balbuen failed among the six kickers who served in the penalty shootout before Jose Canale was the determinant of the 16-team round.

Paraguay showed a relatively defensive strategy almost from the start until it was able to steal a three-minute lead before the end of the first half through a corner kick situation.

A corner kick was released by Miguel Almironyang was immediately punched by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, but the second ball was secured by Paraguay when Damian Bobadilla rolled to hand it to Matias Galarza.

Galarzalantas sent it to become a slick cross that was able to be greeted by a sharp header from Encisodemi to tear the German goal.

The 1-0 lead for Paraguay lasted until the break, but Germany responded immediately and tied the score 1-1 in the 54th minute when Havertz outwitted goalkeeper Orlando Gill with a header to finish Florian Wirtz's cross.

Germany continued to dominate the game and almost turned the tide if Havertz's subsequent header had not been stopped by Gill in the 77th minute, which practically kept the 1-1 draw until the end of normal time and forced the match to continue into extra time.

In the 102nd minute, Tahsebetulnya had a chance to score a goal against Paraguay, but the goal was later annulled after a VAR review stated that Waldemar Anton had pushed Gill in the process of the goal.

The score of 1-1 did not change until the end of the second extra time, so the winner had to be determined by a penalty shootout and Germany was immediately hit with anxiety when Havertz failed to perform his duties as the first kicker.

Paraguay, as reported by Antara, answered it with the success of the first three executioners to lead 3-2, and almost locked the escape when the fourth German kicker Woltemade also failed.

However, Neuer extended Germany's breath by thwarting Sanabri's execution and Nadiem Amiri's score tied the penalty shootout 3-3. Neuer again repelled the fifth penalty kick from Paraguay's Balbuena, opening the opportunity for Germany to lead for the first time in the penalty shootout.

Unfortunately, Tahmembuang missed that opportunity and Canalejustru successfully conquered Neuer to bring Paraguay to win the penalty shootout 4-3 and qualify for the round of 16.

Starting XI

Germany: Manuel Neuer; Joshua Kimmich, Antonio Ruediger (Malick Thiaw 110'), Jonathan Tah, Nathaniel Brown; Felix Nmecha (Leon Goretzka 46'), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Waldemar Anton 79'); Leroy Sane (Nick Woltemade 88'), Deniz Undav (Jamal Musiala 63'), Florian Wirtz (Nadiem Amiri 110'); Kai Havertz

Paraguay: Orlando Gill; Junior Alonso, Jose Canale, Gustavo Gomez, Juan Jose Caceres (Braian Ojeda 99'); Damian Bobadilla (Antonio Sanabria 99'), Matias Galarza, Andres Cubas; Miguel Almiron (Alan Velazquez 91'), Julio Enciso (Mauricio 57'), Gabriel Avalos (Alex Arce Caballero 55')