FOXBOROUGH, MA – When Jonathan Tah thought he had delivered Germany’s breakthrough in extra time, he could not have imagined the cruel twist that awaited. Instead, it was Paraguay’s Orlando Gil who etched his name into World Cup folklore.
Gil produced a masterclass in the penalty shootout, saving the opening spot-kick from Kai Havertz and later denying Anton Waldemade as Paraguay triumphed 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in their round of 32 clash. The victory sends Paraguay into the last 16 for the first time since 2010, while Germany’s knockout-stage drought extends to 12 years.
The match was a tense, tactical affair. Paraguay defended with relentless discipline, frustrating a German side that dominated possession but struggled to carve out clear chances. Julio Enciso headed Paraguay ahead in the 43rd minute, but Havertz leveled with a glancing header of his own in the 54th minute. Neither side could break the deadlock through 120 minutes.
Germany thought they had seized the lead in the 101st minute when Tah nodded home from a corner. But VAR intervened, ruling that Waldemade had fouled Gil in the buildup. The goal was chalked off, and the momentum shifted.
In the shootout, Gil was the hero. After Havertz saw his effort saved, Germany’s Joshua Kimmich and Nadiem Amiri converted, but Tah’s penalty sailed over the bar, setting the stage for Paraguay’s Angel Canale to slot the winner.
Paraguay will now face the winner of France vs. Sweden in the round of 16. For Germany, it is another early exit, a bitter pill for a team that once ruled the football world.
