The scenes at the final whistle offered a striking contrast: on one side, Paraguayans danced joyfully in front of their bench, eyes fixed on the stands where hundreds of their fans were in a frenzy. On the other, the Germans were huddled in their technical area, some collapsed on the turf, faces buried in their hands. The Nationalmannschaft has been sent packing in the round of 32 of this 2026 World Cup, following a match that lacked technical brilliance but delivered high drama until the very last kick of the penalty shootout (1-1, 3-4 on pens).
Germany dominated the ball from the outset, maintaining an staggering possession rate of over 80%. However, they struggled immensely to convert this control into genuine threats. The encounter often felt like a David-and-Goliath cup tie, and the Paraguayan underdog stunned the stadium when Enciso found the back of the net in the 42nd minute. Julian Nagelsmann attempted to spark a reaction with a halftime substitution, bringing on Goretzka for Nmecha, and the Germans managed to level the score quickly through Havertz in the 54th minute.
Despite the equalizer, the German side failed to consistently pressure the Paraguayan defense, with only a couple of headers from Havertz (78th) and Goretzka (86th) coming close. They thought they had secured the win in extra time when Tah converted a corner from Brown (102nd), but the referee overturned the goal after a VAR review. Ultimately, the ticket to the next round was decided from the penalty spot, where the Paraguayans showed superior composure and mental strength.
The standout: José Canale (Paraguay)
In a nerve-wracking shootout that felt like a rollercoaster, José Canale became the hero. After Paraguay had already missed two chances to seal the victory, the central defender stepped up with the weight of a nation on his shoulders. Canale remained ice-cold, slotting home the winning penalty to send his country into the round of 16. Throughout the match, he had been nearly flawless alongside captain Gustavo Gomez, forming a defensive wall that was only breached once. Canale successfully neutralized various attacking threats, including Undav, Havertz, and Woltemade, before etching his name into Paraguayan football history.
The context: a potential clash with France
This victory sets the stage for a possible historic reunion. If France manages to overcome Suède this Tuesday, the Bleus will face Paraguay in the next round. This would be a fascinating remake of their 1998 World Cup encounter in Lens. During that tournament, the French team had to fight until the very end of extra time to eliminate the Paraguayans, winning on a golden goal by Laurent Blanc—a rule that has since disappeared from the game.
For Germany, this exit marks another bitter disappointment. After being eliminated in the group stages of the last two editions, this round of 32 defeat confirms a deep crisis for the four-time world champions, who once again lacked the clinical edge needed on the world stage.