By Bilal Ahmed
Germany’s World Cup exit
Germany, four-time champions, were eliminated from the World Cup 2026 in the round of 32 after a 3-4 penalty shootout loss to Paraguay. The match ended 1-1 after extra time, with Julio Enciso opening the scoring for Paraguay and Kai Havertz equalising for Germany. This marks Germany’s first-ever loss in a World Cup penalty shootout.
The game saw a controversial moment in the second half of extra time when a powerful header from Jonathan Tah was disallowed by VAR due to a foul by Waldemar Anton on Paraguay’s goalkeeper, Orlando Gill. Despite having 78 percent possession in the first half, Germany failed to register a shot on target and went into the break trailing.
In the penalty shootout, Kai Havertz, Nick Woltemade, and Jonathan Tah all missed their spot-kicks for Germany. Orlando Gill saved efforts from Havertz and Woltemade, while Tah’s shot went over the bar. Manuel Neuer made a save from Fabian Balbuena during the shootout, and Antonio Sanabria also missed an opportunity to win it for Paraguay earlier. Ultimately, Jose Canale converted the decisive penalty to send Paraguay into the last 16, where they will face either France or Sweden.
Manager and player reactions
Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann stated he would not quit his position, expressing his desire to continue if the DFB (German Football Association) wished for him to do so. He acknowledged that many would want him to leave but affirmed his commitment to the role, understanding the mechanics of football and how the industry operates.
Kai Havertz, who scored Germany’s equaliser, expressed his disappointment following the defeat, apologising and stating that the team, particularly the players, needed to critically evaluate their performance. This marks Havertz’s second World Cup appearance that ended without significant success.
Paraguay defender Gustavo Gomez conveyed his pride in his teammates and the team’s unity, highlighting their strength in facing challenging situations. He noted that Germany recognised the significant effort required to defeat Paraguay.
Manuel Neuer, the 40-year-old goalkeeper, announced his retirement from international football for the second time after Germany’s exit. He had previously retired after the 2024 European Championship but was persuaded to return for the World Cup. Neuer, who debuted for Germany in 2009 and was the sole remaining member of the 2014 World Cup-winning squad, played 128 games for his country. Despite saving a penalty in the shootout, his efforts were not enough to secure a victory for Germany.
Paraguay’s goalkeeping hero
Orlando Gill, Paraguay’s goalkeeper, played a pivotal role in their victory. His journey to the World Cup has been notable, having played amateur football in 2018 and serving as a back-up goalkeeper for San Lorenzo de Almagro just last year. His career saw a turning point when San Lorenzo faced financial difficulties in signing another goalkeeper, providing Gill with an opportunity under manager Miguel Russo.
Gill’s wife recounted the struggles they faced, including him selling personal gear to cover costs during difficult times, especially when their son was fighting for his life. Despite not being consistently trusted in domestic football in Paraguay, leading to his move to Argentina in 2024, Gill’s impressive performances earned him the number one spot at San Lorenzo and subsequently a place in the national team for the World Cup.
This unexpected success for Paraguay has been described as a significant upset in the tournament. Germany’s inability to win a World Cup knockout tie since their 2014 triumph continues, marking another early exit for the four-time champions.
Other tournament developments
Elsewhere in the tournament, Mexico is preparing to play Ecuador in their round-of-32 match at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Mexico has a strong record at the stadium, having remained undefeated across nine tournament games there, a statistic some attribute to the altitude. The team swept through their group stage matches for the first time in their history, with all three victories occurring at venues over 5,000 feet above sea level. They scored five of their six goals after half-time in these matches, potentially benefiting from opponents’ fatigue.
However, Ecuador is expected to be well-suited to playing at the Azteca’s elevation of approximately 7,300 feet, as they frequently play home matches at over 9,000 feet in Quito. Ecuador went unbeaten at home during qualifying, securing victories against Uruguay, Chile, Peru, and Venezuela. They also joined Argentina as the only nations to win a qualifier in Bolivia, where matches are played at almost 12,000 feet of elevation. Mexico hopes to overcome their historical tendency to fall at the first hurdle in World Cups after the group stage.
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Source: skysports.com
