Germany crash out of World Cup in penalty shoot-out loss to Paraguay

FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts - Kai Havertz turned from hero to villain after scoring Germany’s equaliser that took them to extra time against Paraguay, but then missed the opening spot kick as the four-time World Cup winners were knocked out in the round of 32, 4-3 on penalties.

The Arsenal forward’s miss gave the Germans an uphill task in the penalty shoot-out after extra time, with team-mate Nick Woltemade of Newcastle United also missing from the spot.

Centre-back Jonathan Tah, who had a goal ruled out for a foul in extra time, then missed the Germans’ first kick in sudden death, allowing Jose Canale to score the decisive penalty.

Paraguay will face France or Sweden in the last 16 on July 5.

For the Germans, it was a bitter defeat and the first time they lost a penalty shootout at a World Cup.

It was the biggest win at the tournament for the South Americans, who reached the quarter-finals in 2010 and had not qualified since, while Germany’s international reputation is now in tatters after consecutive World Cup group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022.

“I think the feeling we have is difficult to explain,” a beaming Paraguay captain Gustavo Gomez said. “I’m very proud of my teammates and of this group. Today was a match in which we had to be Paraguay more than ever.”

“I think deep down Germany knew that if they wanted to beat us, they would have to sweat blood, because we were going to make defeat very, very expensive for them,” he said.

Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann, who at the age of 38 became the youngest coach in a World Cup knockout stage in 40 years, will now be under massive pressure once he returns home after yet another World Cup debacle.

“I am disappointed. It was just not enough to beat this opponent,” said Nagelsmann, who had publicly set Germany the goal of winning a fifth World Cup. “The opponent scored once and we did not defend very well. We lost control of possession. We tried a lot of things but we should have scored earlier.”

“If you are eliminated by Paraguay you are just not a first-class football team. I am very disappointed.” REUTERS