With the 26-year-old Orlando Hill as the hero, who made two saves in the penalty shootout, Paraguay pulled off the ultimate surprise at this year’s 2026 World Cup, eliminating four-time world champion Germany 4-3 in “Russian roulette” (1-1 in regular time and extra time).
The Paraguayans “got two penalties” with the San Lorenzo goalkeeper’s saves and seemed to be embracing qualification, but Sanabria shot wide in the 4th attempt and Neuer “caught” Balbuena’s penalty. Ta, however, missed his own penalty (6th, offside), and Canale “sealed” a historic qualification for Paraguay, who became the first team in history to defeat Germany in a penalty shootout at a World Cup (the “nationalmanashaft” had 4 out of 4 so far).
The Paraguayans showed “wild” attitudes from the first… seconds, when from a corner Alonso found himself alone at the far post, but he could not beat Neuer. The Germans, for their part, had possession, but were very “chatty” with the ball at their feet and… paid for it just before the end of the first half, when, from a nice combination and cross by Galarza, Enciso headed in a 1-0 for Paraguay.
In the second half, the Germans’ image changed drastically. Although in the 50th minute, Kimmich’s serious mistake almost cost the “national team” (“Neuer” saved Enciso’s place), the equalizer came for Germany (1-1) with Havertz’s header in the 54th minute after a nice cross from Wirth.
Hill made a terrible save on Havertz’s header in the 78th minute, sending both teams into extra time. In the 102nd minute, Ta’s goal was disallowed by VAR and on-field review for an offensive foul by Anton on Hill following Brown’s corner kick, while in the 119th minute, the Paraguayan goalkeeper showed good reflexes on Anton’s header.
The game went to penalties where Hill’s class and Canale’s composure “spoke” in Paraguay’s 6th and final penalty, giving his team qualification!
PENALTY SCHEDULE
Havertz saved by Hill
Mauricio 0-1
Kimmich 1-1
Gomes 1-2
Musiala 2-2
Galarza 2-3
Voltemande saved by Hill
Sanabria out
Amiri 3-3
Balbuena saved by Neuer
Ta out
Canale 3-4
Referee : Jalal Jayed (Morocco)
Yellow cards : 106′ Havertz, 115′ Musiala – 65′ Koubas, 118′ Galarsa
The lineups of the two teams:
GERMANY (Julian Nagelsmann): Neuer, Kimmich, Rudiger (110′ Tiao), Ta, Brown, Pavlovic (79′ Anton), Enmeca (46′ Goretzka), Wirth (110′ Amiri), Sane (88′ Voltemande), Havertz, Udav (63′ Musiala).
PARAGUAY (Gustavo Alfaro) : Hill, Caceres (99′ Ojeda), Alonso (120’+2′ Balbuena), Canale, Gomez, Almiron (91′ Velasquez), Cubas, Bobadilla (99′ Sanabria), Galarza, Enciso (57′ l.t. Mauricio), Avalos (56′ Caballero).
KOSTAS GOULIS