Penalty heartbreak as Germany fall to Paraguay | OneFootball

A painful night in Boston ended in World Cup heartbreak for David Raum, Assan Ouédraogo and the Germany national team. Their tournament came to an end in the early hours of Tuesday morning, as Paraguay came through a dramatic round-of-32 tie 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

The game remained level after 120 minutes, before the tension continued in the shootout. Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade both failed to convert for Germany, while Paraguay scored their first three penalties and had two chances to seal it. Antonio Sanabria dragged his effort wide, before Manuel Neuer kept out Fabián Balbuena to force sudden death.

Germany could not take advantage, though. Jonathan Tah then fired over, while Paraguay made no mistake with their next chance. José Canale stayed composed and sent his side into the last 16.

It was a bitter end to Germany’s first World Cup knockout match since winning the tournament in 2014, after group-stage exits in both 2018 and 2022. David and Assan were unused substitutes at Gillette Stadium in Boston, home of the NFL’s New England Patriots.

Paraguay shock Germany before the break

There were warning signs for Germany early on in Boston. Just two minutes in, Junior Alonso found space on the right-hand side of the six-yard box after a corner, but Manuel Neuer reacted sharply to keep him out.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side struggled to build momentum in the first half. Germany had plenty of the ball, but found it difficult to create clear openings against a compact Paraguay side who defended with discipline and carried a threat from set-pieces.

That threat told shortly before half time. After another corner caused problems in the German box, Neuer initially punched clear, but Paraguay kept the attack alive. A cross from the right dropped to Julio Enciso, who had been left free around the penalty spot and headed in to make it 1-0 (42’).

Germany improved slightly after falling behind, but still went into the dressing room with work to do.

Havertz heads Germany level

Germany found a response early in the second half. Florian Wirtz delivered from the left, Kai Havertz rose in the middle and headed home the equaliser to make it 1-1 (54’).

Nagelsmann’s side pushed for a second from there, but Paraguay continued to defend with huge commitment and gave very little away. With no winner at the end of normal time, the match became the first of this World Cup to go to extra time.

Germany were the more dangerous side in the additional 30 minutes, with corners and deliveries from deep repeatedly putting Paraguay under pressure.

Tah denied by VAR

For a moment, it looked as though Germany had turned the tie around. Nathaniel Brown swung in Germany’s 13th corner from the right, and Jonathan Tah powered a header in at the far post.

The celebrations were short-lived. Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed was advised to review the incident and went to the monitor. He ruled that Waldemar Anton had impeded Paraguay goalkeeper Gill in the box, and the goal was chalked off.

Anton then had one final big chance to win it. In the 119th minute, he met another corner from close range, but his header was too central and Gill was able to smother the ball.

That sent the tie to penalties, where Germany’s World Cup came to a heartbreaking end.

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