Germany out of World Cup after penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay
Germany have been knocked OUT of the World Cup following a stunning penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay in the last 32.
Arsenal's Kai Havertz and Newcastle's Nick Woltemade both dramatically failed from the spot after the match ended 1-1 following extra time.
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Paraguay defender Jose Canale emerged as the hero despite the South Americans having wasted two chances to seal victory earlier.
It marks the first occasion Germany have ever been beaten on penalties at the World Cup, having previously triumphed in all four of their prior shootouts, converting 17 of 18 spot kicks along the way.
Yet their fortune deserted them after a lacklustre 120 minutes and they are now heading home.
Paraguay served early notice by earning a corner inside the opening minute and nearly capitalised. The ball dropped to Junior Alonso at the far post but he failed to make proper contact when attempting to convert.
Germany then controlled possession thereafter, though without carving out many genuine scoring chances.
Their failure to be clinical proved costly when Paraguay struck against the run of play late in the opening period.
The underdogs earned a corner which Manuel Neuer punched away. The ball was worked out to the right flank where Miguel Almiron threaded a reverse pass through to Matias Galarza.
His delivery was inch-perfect onto the head of former Brighton and Ipswich striker Julio Enciso, who powered his header into the net from 12 yards out. That undoubtedly prompted some sharp words at the interval from Germany manager Julien Nagelsmann.
Die Mannschaft emerged after the break with far greater purpose.
Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz delivered a sumptuous cross from deep, and Arsenal forward Havertz's deft flick header found the bottom corner to level proceedings.
Havertz had the opportunity to grab a second in the 78th minute from the same source. Wirtz whipped a ball into the edge of the six-yard box, but the Gunners striker could only direct his header straight into the grasp of goalkeeper Orlando Gill.
Despite commanding 76% of possession throughout the 90 minutes, Germany mustered only three shots on target and the match proceeded to extra time.
Newcastle striker Woltemade, introduced from the bench, fired an effort towards goal which struck the elbow of Paraguayan defender Gustavo Gomez. However, his arm was adjudged to be in a natural position and Gomez was deemed too close to the shot to react.
The pressure appeared to finally tell 12 minutes into the additional period when Jonathan Tah powered a header into the net from Nathaniel Brown's corner.
Yet VAR stepped in and, after reviewing the footage, the referee ruled that Waldemar Anton had fouled goalkeeper Gill. Contact appeared minimal, but the goal was disallowed.
Anton then spurned a glorious opportunity to settle the tie in the dying moments of extra time, diverting a close-range header straight into Gill's arms. That left the tie to be settled by penalties, with Havertz watching his attempt kept out.
Paraguay converted their opening three before Woltemade's failure, handing them two chances to seal victory.
However, Antonio Sanabria dragged his penalty wide before ex-West Ham defender Fabian Balbuena had his spot kick saved.
Tah then blasted his penalty over the crossbar as the shootout entered sudden death, with Jose Canale converting the decisive kick.
Paraguay progress to the last 16, where they will face either France or Sweden.