Paraguay pulled off a stunning upset in the World Cup round of 32, defeating four-time champions Germany 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. The victory sends Paraguay to the last 16 for the first time since 2010, while Germany faces an early exit.
Match Recap: A Tense Affair
The match at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires saw Germany dominate possession early, but Paraguay struck first in the 36th minute through a counter-attack. Miguel Almiron latched onto a through ball and slotted past Manuel Neuer to give Paraguay a shock lead. Germany equalized in the 58th minute when Kai Havertz headed home from a Joshua Kimmich cross.
Both teams had chances in the remainder of the half, but the score remained 1-1, forcing extra time. Neither side could break the deadlock in the additional 30 minutes, leading to a penalty shootout.
Penalty Shootout Drama
In the shootout, Paraguay converted all four of their penalties, with Almiron, Angel Romero, Fabian Balbuena, and substitute Oscar Cardozo scoring. Germany's first penalty by Ilkay Gundogan was saved by Paraguay goalkeeper Antony Silva, and Thomas Muller's effort hit the crossbar. Havertz and Toni Kroos scored for Germany, but it wasn't enough.
"We believed in ourselves from the start," said Paraguay coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto. "The players showed incredible character, and the goalkeeper was the hero."
Historic Achievement for Paraguay
This is Paraguay's first appearance in the knockout stage since 2010, when they reached the quarterfinals. The team, ranked 49th in the world, was considered a long shot to advance from a group that included Italy and Mexico. "This is a dream come true for our country," added captain Gustavo Gomez. "We will enjoy this moment, but we are not done yet."
Germany, who won the World Cup in 2014, have now failed to reach the quarterfinals in consecutive tournaments, having been eliminated in the group stage in 2018 and 2022.
What's Next for Paraguay
Paraguay will face the winner of the match between Brazil and South Korea in the round of 16. The match is scheduled for July 4 at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Paraguay will hope to replicate their 2010 run, where they reached the quarterfinals before losing to Spain.
