Paraguay defeated one of Europe’s strongest teams, Germany, 4-3 on penalties in the World Cup Round of 32 at Boston Stadium on Monday, June 29, but the victory was unexpected for soccer fans.
Julio Enciso gave Paraguay the lead in the 42nd minute of the first half, while Kai Havertz equalized for Germany in the 54th minute of the second half. Most importantly, Germany controlled the game throughout the match, but in extra time, Jonathan Tah’s header was ruled out by VAR, which was a major upset for the team.
The two teams went to penalties after 120 minutes with the score tied at 1-1. Kai Havertz, Nick Woltemade, and Jonathan Tah all missed from the spot for Germany. Sanabria and Balbuena missed two chances for Paraguay, although Jose Canale’s penalty sealed the victory for the South American side, sparking a huge celebration.
“We should not be blaming the referee or the penalty shootout today,” Germany captain Joshua Walter Kimmich said after the match, according to Reuters. “If you cannot beat Paraguay over 120 minutes then you are deservedly eliminated. You should not depend on the opponents’ luck or no luck. You should have the quality in the squad to clearly beat this opponent.”
Paraguay’s victory over Germany was a major achievement, as they had failed to qualify for three consecutive World Cups since reaching the quarter-finals in 2010. Meanwhile, Germany’s dominance in soccer has continued to decline since winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The four-time world champions were eliminated in the group stage of two consecutive World Cups in 2018 and 2022, which has affected their international reputation.
The South American team’s victory was a surprise to soccer fans around the world, as most thought Germany would be the favourites. But they may have forgotten that this is the World Cup, and miracles happen here, as one of Europe’s strongest teams, the Netherlands, crashed out of the tournament after losing on penalties to Morocco. The defeats of these two European teams changed the equation at the World Cup.
Alos Read: Cristiano Ronaldo Makes History with Goal Against Uzbekistan at the World Cup