Argentine football did it: San Lorenzo and Lanús stunned Paraguay | OneFootball

Paraguay’s national team wrote a golden page in World Cup history by eliminating Germany in the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup. After a hard-fought battle and a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes, the tie was decided from the penalty spot at Gillette Stadium. With a colossal performance from goalkeeper Orlando Gill and the composure of José Canale, Gustavo Alfaro’s side prevailed 4-3 to book a place in the next round, where France or Sweden await.

The heart-stopping shootout, step by step

The shootout could not have started better for La Albirroja. Orlando Gill showed from the very first second that it would be his afternoon, stopping Kai Havertz’s opening effort with a strong dive to his left post. Right after that, Mauricio Magalhaes put Paraguay ahead, forcing the Europeans to chase the game.The efficiency continued with converted kicks from Gustavo Gómez and Matías Galarza Fonda for the South Americans, while Jamal Musiala pulled one back for the Germans. On Germany’s fourth penalty, Gill once again put on the hero’s cape by saving Nick Woltemade’s shot, repeating the formula to his left post and leaving Paraguay one step away from qualification.

However, the ending brought a heavy dose of drama. Antonio Sanabria dragged his shot wide, and Nadiem Amiri took advantage of Germany’s extra life by beating Gill. The tension reached its peak when Fabián Balbuena struck down the middle, allowing Manuel Neuer to read his intention and save the effort. With the shootout tied at three, German defender Jonathan Tah felt the pressure and blasted his shot over the crossbar. Glory was left at the feet of José Canale, who with a powerful, high strike gave Neuer no chance and unleashed Guaraní madness in Boston.

The hero’s words and a historic stat for Germany

“An immense emotion, it was a very complicated match. It was said from the very beginning that they were going to attack us from every angle, we knew how to withstand them and take the lead. They found the equalizer, but we knew how to hold on and win on penalties,” Gill said after securing passage to the round of 16. The San Lorenzo goalkeeper gave details of his preparation: “You have to analyze each player, every detail, and thank God I was able to save two penalties, it was crucial for qualification. It’s a privilege, we eliminated a champion. It’s dedicated to all the Paraguayan people, and especially to a nephew who is going through a difficult time and is hospitalized.”

The value of Paraguay’s victory grows even more with the statistic. This elimination marked Germany’s first-ever loss on penalties in World Cup history. In fact, Die Mannschaft had not lost in this way in an official competition since the 1976 European Championship final against Czechoslovakia, ending a streak of invincibility in shootouts that had seemed eternal.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.