Kai Havertz misses penalty as Paraguay eliminate Germany from World Cup

Four-time world champions, Germany, have been knocked out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after losing a thriller penalty shootout 4-3 to Paraguay after being drawn 1-1 after extra time.

Paraguay won the right to go through to the next round, after having Jose Canale successfully score the decisive penalty for the side in sudden death after the Paraguay side were unable to take advantage of some golden chances.

Arsenal striker, Kai Havertz and Newcastle United striker, Nick Woltemade were both unsuccessful in scoring in the penalty shootout as goalkeeper Orlando Gill saved two penalties to give Paraguay the upper hand.

In what was supposed to be an easy chance for Paraguay to win the match after Antonio Sanabria missed the chance of scoring in the early stages of the shootout while German goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer saved Fabian Balbuena’s penalty.

However, it didn’t work for the Germans after Jonathan Tah shot wide of the target in sudden death giving way to Canale to successfully score the decisive goal.

Paraguay had scored just before the break through the former Brighton and Ipswich Town striker Julio Enciso, who headed in a goal in the 42nd minute.

Germany came back fighting in the second period and managed to level the scores after Havertz deflected a header from Florian Wirtz’s delivery into the net.

It was evenly matched right up until extra time when it looked like Germany would clinch a last-minute winner through Tah; however, the referee disallowed the goal due to an alleged foul by Waldemar Anton on goalkeeper Gill.

After failing to score any more goals, it went to a shootout, which Germany lost.

Paraguay now have a date in the round of 16 against the winners of the round-of-32 fixture between France and Sweden in the World Cup in Philadelphia.