Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann's future is uncertain following their Fifa World Cup exit.
Image: Xinhua via IANS
Germany have crashed out of the FIFA World Cup at the hands of a resilient Paraguay side in the round of 32, losing 4-3 on penalties following a tense 1-1 draw at Gillette Stadium on Monday night.
The extraordinary result marks the first time in football history that Germany have ever lost a penalty shootout at a World Cup.
Brighton & Hove Albion forward Julio Enciso headed Paraguay into a shock lead shortly before half-time, but Arsenal's Kai Havertz levelled for the Germans on 54 minutes with his third goal of the tournament.
Jonathan Tah saw a dramatic extra-time winner disallowed after a lengthy VAR review, before Paraguay held their nerve to shock the European powerhouse in a wild, nerve-jangling shootout where the psychological momentum swung back and forth.
Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill emerged as the ultimate hero, saving penalties from both Havertz and Nick Woltemade. Although his teammates subsequently squandered two consecutive match-winning opportunities, José Canale stepped up to blast home the decisive spot-kick after Tah had blazed his own effort high over the crossbar.
The capitulation marks yet another premature tournament exit for Germany, who were making their very first knockout-stage appearance since lifting the trophy at the 2014 World Cup.
Conversely, Paraguay celebrated arguably their greatest-ever victory at the global showpiece, though they now face the daunting prospect of running into an in-form France in the round of 16, should Les Bleus overcome Sweden.
An ecstatic Gill described the historic triumph as "an immense thrill."
"We managed to hold on. We opened the scoring, they equalised, but then we managed to keep it up. Obviously, we analysed every player and every single detail of the penalty takers," Gill revealed post-match. "Thank God I was able to save two penalties. This is a privilege; we eliminated a former champion. This is dedicated to all Paraguayans."
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann had handed Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav his first start of the tournament, rewarding him after he scored three times in the opening two group fixtures as an impact substitute. Undav replaced Jamal Musiala in the starting line-up, whilst Nathaniel Brown returned at left-back, having sat out the previous defeat to Ecuador as a precaution due to a minor fitness niggle.
Meanwhile, playmaker Miguel Almirón was recalled to the Paraguay side following a one-match suspension. The Newcastle United winger had recently become the first player in history to be sent off for covering his mouth during an on-field confrontation under stringent new FIFA disciplinary rules.
Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro had passionately urged his players to grasp the opportunity of a lifetime, and they very nearly opened the scoring barely sixty seconds into the tie. Junior Alonso found space at the back post from an early corner but was unable to beat the veteran Manuel Neuer.
Germany's initial 7-1 demolition of Curaçao in their group opener offered a fleeting glimpse of their attacking firepower, but that result ultimately papered over what has otherwise been an incredibly blunt forward line in North America.
Undav floated an early effort wide as Germany struggled to unlock a compact Paraguayan rearguard, and they paid a heavy price when they lost their defensive shape just before the interval, allowing Enciso to open the scoring.
Paraguay recycled possession efficiently after Neuer punched clear an initial corner, working the ball out wide to the right flank for Matías Galarza to fizz in a dangerous cross that picked out a completely unmarked Enciso to head home.
Remarkably, it was Paraguay's first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout stage, having failed to score in their previous five knockout matches, including a narrow 1-0 defeat to Germany in the round of 16 in 2002.
Germany introduced Leon Goretzka at the break to restore midfield order but almost conceded a catastrophic second when an under-hit backpass from Joshua Kimmich forced Neuer to race off his line to deny Enciso.
However, the Germans finally breached Paraguay's dogged defence when Florian Wirtz cut inside from the left wing and delivered a precise cross that Havertz glanced into the far corner to temporarily ease German anxieties. Paraguay subsequently lost the talismanic Enciso to injury, and with him their primary counter-attacking outlet. Yet, Gill reacted sharply to claw away a goalbound Havertz header from another Wirtz delivery, as Paraguay bravely clung on to send the match into extra time.
Tah thought he had finally put Germany in front during the extra period with a powerful back-post header from Nathaniel Brown's looping corner. However, the goal was cruelly disallowed after a VAR review identified a foul by Waldemar Anton on the goalkeeper in the build-up.
Anton later headed straight at Gill from another set-piece, but Paraguay withstood Germany's late aerial barrage before keeping their cool from 12 yards to spring a monumental World Cup upset.
AFP