Germany 1-1 Paraguay (3-4 P): Canale sends Germans crashing out of World Cup | OneFootball

Ollie Whitmore, Chief football news reporter

Paraguay sent Germany crashing out of the World Cup on penalties for the very first time and caused one of the biggest ever shocks on the world stage to reach the last 16.

The 2014 winners were far too lethargic going forward – a stark contrast to their opponents breaking away with purpose at every chance to counter – and were punished for some awful defending that gifted Enciso a free header to open the scoring.

Kai Havertz responded with a glancing header past Orlando Gill, his third goal of the tournament, before Jonathan Tah’s powerful header in extra time was ruled out when VAR judged Waldemar Anton to have impeded the goalkeeper.

Having put in a phenomenal performance at the back, José Canale blasted his penalty home to send Germany crashing out with their first ever defeat in a World Cup shootout and, by FIFA’s rankings, cause the third-biggest upset in the tournament’s history.

Manuel Neuer was called upon just two minutes in to thwart Júnior Alonso’s shot towards goal after chesting down Julio Enciso’s corner unmarked at the back post, in what proved to be a rare first-half chance for Paraguay.

The South Americans frustrated Julian Nagelsmann’s team, keeping all 11 men behind the ball to restrict the space in between the lines and giving them very little to work with save for a wasteful effort from 20 yards by Florian Wirtz.

Germany were often accountable for their own discontent, making several fouls – particularly focused on former Newcastle winger Miguel Almirón, often the man leading Paraguay’s breaks out of the defensive third – that stilted an already stagnant contest.

Paraguay countered with good use of the width, and earned themselves only a second corner with five minutes left until first-half stoppage time with Almirón’s positive running down towards the byline on the right.

Damián Bobadilla slid in with a crucial challenge to prevent the Germans from breaking away from the set piece, before Almirón found Matías Galaza on the overlap and Enciso was left with far too much space to head the delivery past Neuer.

Neuer rescued Germany a second time after the break when Joshua Kimmich’s pass back to his goalkeeper was pounced on by Enciso, making the save with his legs to stop the ball from squirming underneath him.

His team then injected some directness into their forward play six minutes before the hour and finally hit the front when Havertz met Wirtz’s whipped cross with a glancing header to help it on its way into the net for the equalizer.

Gill was determined not to be bested by Havertz again and dived left to keep out his effort from six yards following the same combination of a Wirtz cross meeting the head of the Arsenal forward.

José Canale continued his excellent defensive work into extra time with two big blocks to contain substitute Nick Woltemade on two occasions as well as Kimmich from range, taking the 29-year-old’s to 23 defensive contributions for the match.

He was taken off in the eighth minute of extra time, just as Jonathan Tah missed a great chance to head in another cross from the left wing at the back post to the dismay of his manager, who was left wincing in his seat.

But the Bayern Munich defender took his next opportunity, rising highest to send a bullet header over Gill and into the net, but VAR overruled Jalal Jayed’s on-field decision having ruled that Anton blocked the goalkeeper before Tah found the net.

Substitute Jamal Musiala was perhaps fortunate to escape a sending off after steaming into Carrales full tilt in Paraguay’s left back position to exact revenge for an earlier coming-together, and was booked as Germany edged closer to penalties.

Anton then missed a golden chance to make up for his foul on the goalkeeper but sent his header straight at Gill who was rooted in the middle of his goal, before Galaza was then lucky to remain on the pitch for a foul on Havertz 30 yards out.

Gustavo Alfaro’s side had taken Germany to penalties. Havertz was up first and went from hero to zero, Gill diving to his left and keeping out the first spot kick and Paraguay scorer Gazala kept his cool to keep his side in front 3-1.

Paraguay’s towering goalkeeper pulled off another fantastic save to deny Nick Woltemade, but Antonio Sanabria and F. Balbuena both missed their penalties that would have sent Paraguay through.

Having thought he put Germany on the brink of a spot in the round of 16, Tah skied his penalty horribly over the crossbar to gift Paraguay their third opportunity to make history.

Canale blasted his penalty home to send Germany crashing out of yet another World Cup with their first ever defeat in a shootout on football’s biggest stage of all.

Germany analysis: Nagelsmann’s side crumble facing another low block in embarrassing World Cup exit

Coby Watson, World Cup tactics correspondent

Germany were heavily favoured coming into this game, but they soon found out it was not going to be plain sailing. As has been common in this tournament, another top ranked side struggled to break down the low block.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side had struggled previously against this system in the group stages, losing 2-1 to Ecuador and needing a last-minute goal to beat Ivory Coast.

They were simply too slow in possession and did not move the ball into wide areas quick enough, and their decision making in the final third was lethargic at best. When opportunities were arising, they were not being taken and they were instead overplaying.

Playing against a low block is not easy as shown numerous times this tournament, but Germany needed to adopt their directness far sooner.

When Germany did play direct, they were rewarded with the equaliser. A cross into the box from deep by Wirtz caught the South American side out and Havertz guided it home.

Due to the amount of possession and the few chances Paraguay were having, the German backline often switched off and were sloppy. Enciso’s opener was really poor from a defensive perspective as there was not a German defender anywhere near him.

Further defensive errors were seen by experienced individuals like Kimmich who was nearly caught out after a sloppy back pass that was picked up by Enciso.Germany only have themselves to blame for their early elimination for a third World Cup running. They failed to break Paraguay down and were far to lacklustre and slow.

They lacked urgency and played into the hands of Paraguay allowing them to keep sitting in with very little pressure on their shape. Die Mannschaft were naïve in their performance and allowed Paraguay to frustrate them, and they lacked a killer instinct or simply just the spirit and will to win.

In the end, the 31 places separating the two sides in FIFA’s rankings meant very little and the Germans are knockout out early on for the third World Cup running.

Paraguay Analysis: A resilient performance delivers third round of 16 appearance

Coby Watson, World Cup tactics correspondent

Paraguay showed exactly why they made it to the knockouts in this tournament and despite Germany being large favourites, they put on a resilient performance.

They played much like they had in the group stages, operating with a low block which earned them two clean sheets in their last two games – wanting to hit Germany on the break and take any chance that presented itself to them.

They frustrated the Germans throughout the first half and for large periods of the second. Every ball that came into the box was headed clear and every second ball was fiercely contested.

La Albirroja slowed the game winning fouls deep inside their own half and slowing any German momentum. Miguel Almiron was doing this expertly and not only was he winning fouls, but he was breaking the German press and allowing Paraguay to progress forward.

In moments where Paraguay could press or Almiron broke the lines, they were quick and direct and showed that they could hurt Germany. Julio Enciso’s goal encapsulated the Paraguayan game plan perfectly, as he caught Die Mannschaft napping after a delightful cross from Almiron.

Paraguay had to be perfect to hold the Germans out and in the one moment they did switch off they were punished and Havertz equalised for Germany. The main issue with playing a low block is the pressure invited onto yourselves and eventually something has to give.

Apart from this error and the VAR decision going their way, Gustavo Alfaro’s game plan was executed flawlessly for 120 minutes. They kept German chances to a minimum and gave as good as they got, in particular José Canales making block after block before his penalty sent Germany out.

They continued to frustrate the Germans throughout and even as the game went on and they became more tired they did not let up in their defensive performance. Paraguay just kept going and this wore the Germans down.

Paraguay do not play the most attractive football, they’ll be the first to tell you that. But they can frustrate and thrive on playing with their backs against the wall.

They will likely play France next, if France can beat Sweden first, and they must repeat their heroics against an even more dangerous side if they are serious about going any deeper into the tournament.

Penalties

Germany: K. Havertz ✗ J. Kimmich ✓ J. Musiala ✓ N. Woltemade ✗ N. Amiri ✓ J. Tah ✗

Paraguay: Mauricio ✓ G. Gómez ✓ M. Galaza ✓ A. Sanabria ✗ F. Balbuena ✗ José Canale ✓

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Germany – Paraguay Live Score