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FWC on Sport Nation guideParaguay inflict penalty shootout pain on Germany
AP • June 30th, 2026 12:30 pm
Paraguay have caused a last-32 boilover, ousting four-time world champions Germany on penalties | Photo: AP
Jose Canale has scored with Paraguay's first sudden death penalty, Orlando Gill made two key saves in the shootout and the South Americans upset Germany 4-3 on spot kicks to earn arguably the biggest upset of the 2026 World Cup so far.
The round-of-32 match ended 1-1 after extra time on Monday (Tuesday NZT). Paraguay had gone in front when Julio Enciso headed home late in the first half, before Kai Havertz equalised in the 52nd minute for the four-time world champions.
Paraguay will next face the winner of France and Sweden on July 4 in Philadelphia. A win in that match would land them back in Foxborough for a quarter-final match on July 9.
Orlando Gill saved two German spot kicks to help Paraguay reach the last 16 | Photo: AP
"We had to analyze every player, every detail. Thanks to that I was able to only miss two penalties," Gill said.
"This is for all the people of Paraguay."
Germany had won six of seven penalty shootouts in major tournaments, including six straight since losing to Czechoslovakia in the 1976 European Championship final.
In the only previous World Cup match between the teams, Germany beat Paraguay 1-0 in the round of 16 at the 2002 tournament. Nearly a quarter-century later, Paraguay have their revenge.
Julio Enciso's powerful first-half header stunned Germany in Boston | Photo: AP
La Albirroja had appeared in five previous knockout games, but failed to score in each. They advanced only once in those previous occasions, winning on penalties against Japan in the last 16 at the 2010 tournament in South Africa. They fell that year to eventual champions Spain in the quarters.
It was Germany's first knockout game since the 2014 final in Brazil when the Europeans beat Argentina 1-0 to capture their fourth World Cup title.
"We had very big plans for this World Cup," Havertz said.
"It's very difficult to disappoint again. It was difficult to create chances and keep the pace."
Kai Havertz got Germany back into the contest with his fifth World Cup goal | Photo: EPA
Julian Nagelsmann's side appeared to take a 2-1 lead in the 102nd minute when Jonathan Tah headed in a corner kick by Nathaniel Brown, but a video review ruled that Waldemar Anton has pushed Gill to the ground and the goal was disallowed.
"What I want to highlight from our team is how united we are," Canale said.
"Today was a game we really needed to show our true colours."
Paraguay are set to host one game in the six-nation 2030 edition and before that can celebrate a famous victory over a Germany side who suffered a third early World Cup elimination in a row.
