Germany lost for the first time on penalties in the World Cup as they were eliminated from the last 32 against Paraguay.
Kai Havertz canceled out Julio Enciso’s opener, but the Arsenal striker, along with Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade, had their kicks saved by Orlando Gill before Bayern Munich defender Jonathan Tah blazed over, allowing Jose Canale to book a last 16 match against France or Sweden.
Germany have not won a World Cup play-off since winning the competition for the fourth time in 2014 and were badly denied by a controversial VAR decision in the second half of extra time when Tah’s powerful corner was ruled out by Waldemar Anton’s soft ball to Gill.
But Julian Nagelsmann’s side produced a poor first-half performance in which they failed to shoot on target and went into the break trailing despite having 78 percent possession.
They can still improve, as they have won all four matches of the World Cup, they could not rely on penalties, even when Paraguay had two chances to win it as Antonio Sanabria sent all his efforts and Manuel Neuer saved Fabian Balbuena in the final.
How Germany lost for the first time in the World Cup…
- 0-0: HAVERTZ DENIED! Gill saves up his left.
- 0-1: ADVANTAGE PARAGUAY! Mauricio buries it in the bottom right corner.
Kai Havertz is denied by Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill
- 1-1: NO ERROR! Kimmich keeps his cool to get to the point.
- 1-2: BACK FORWARD! Gomez sends Neuer the wrong way.
- 2-2: MUSIALA’S STANDARDS! Strong kick in the corner.
- 2-3: COOL AS YOU LIKE! Galarza fires his effort into the bottom left corner.
- 2-3: WAIT! Woltemade rejected! Paraguay has a chance to win it…
Nick Woltemade reacts after saving his penalty
- 2-3: YOU’RE OUT! Sanabria sends his spot kick to the left post. Germany still have to score…
- 3-3: He’s still alive! Amiri keeps Germany at bay, but Paraguay have another chance to win it…
- 3-3: NEUER FINAL! Great stop from the keeper, diving to the left. By sudden death…
Manuel Neuer saves to keep Germany’s hopes alive
- 3-3: TAH IS WRONG! Wow, the defender is on fire to give Paraguay a chance to win it again…
- 3-4: THEY ARE DONE! Canale crashes into the top corner to send Germany out!
Orlando Gill celebrates Paraguay’s stunning victory
Havertz apologizes after losing
German striker Kai Havertz said:
“I am at a loss for words. This is the second World Cup and both times it was unsuccessful. All I can do is apologize.
“We have to look at ourselves, especially the players, and I leave the coach aside from that.
Gomez: We can face any situation
Paraguayan defender Gustavo Gomez said:
“The feeling is hard to describe. I am very proud of my teammates, of the team.
“I was very impressed with our unity. We have an amazing ability to face any situation. Germany knew they needed to work hard to beat us.”
