Paraguay defeated four-time champion Germany 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, advancing to the last 16. Goalkeeper Orlando Gill made two crucial saves.
10:05 PM
Paraguay eliminated Germany from the 2026 World Cup on Monday at Boston Stadium, winning 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes of play.
Paraguay opened the scoring through a header by Enciso in the first half. Germany equalized with a goal from Kai Havertz in the second half. The match remained tied through extra time, forcing a penalty shootout.
Goalkeeper Orlando Gill proved decisive in the shootout, saving efforts from Havertz and Nick Woltemade. Germany also missed a penalty during the sequence. José Canale converted the winning penalty for Paraguay to secure the 4-3 victory on spot kicks.
Germany, which won its group with six points, failed to advance past the round of 16. The team had dominated possession in the first half but could not convert that advantage into goals. Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann was critical of his team's performance after the match. "If you are eliminated against Paraguay, we are not a top-level team anymore," Nagelsmann said. He also disputed a disallowed goal by Jonathan Tah, saying the decision to annul it was "a joke."
For Paraguay, the victory marked the first time the nation has advanced past the round of 16 in World Cup history. The team will face the winner of the France-Sweden match in the quarterfinals.
Paraguay's president Santiago Peña announced a national holiday on Tuesday, June 30, to allow citizens to celebrate the victory. "Paraguay never surrenders! National holiday," Peña posted on social media. The government confirmed the decree, stating it would "allow all compatriots" to celebrate the historic triumph.
Gill spoke after the match about his approach to the penalty shootout. "It is an immense emotion. It was a very complicated match. We knew from the first moment that they were going to attack us from all sides, but we managed to withstand it," the goalkeeper said. He credited analyzing each opposing player's tendencies with helping him make the crucial saves.
Midfielder Matías Galarza Fonda, who converted a penalty in the shootout, had recently been released by Argentine club River Plate before joining Paraguay's World Cup squad. He was among 14 players removed from River's roster earlier in the year following an error in a domestic cup match.
Celebrations erupted across Paraguay following the final whistle. In Asunción's Plaza de la Democracia, large crowds gathered to watch the match on giant screens with police providing security. Radio broadcasters described scenes of jubilation throughout the country, with some calling for an extended three-day national holiday.
Gustavo Alfaro, Paraguay's coach, led the team to the victory. Paraguay had lost its opening match 4-1 to the United States but recovered to eliminate one of football's traditional powerhouses.
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