Germany’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign came to a disappointing end after Julian Nagelsmann’s side suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
The four-time world champions controlled possession for long spells but struggled to turn dominance into clear-cut chances against a disciplined Paraguayan backline.
Paraguay stunned Germany late in the first half when Julio Enciso rose highest to head home a pinpoint cross, giving the South Americans a deserved lead heading into the interval.
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Germany responded positively after the restart and restored parity eight minutes into the second half. Florian Wirtz whipped in a dangerous delivery from the left and Kai Havertz glanced a clever header beyond Orlando Gill to make it 1-1.
Despite increasing the tempo, Germany lacked the clinical edge required to finish the contest. Jonathan Tah thought he had won it during extra time, but VAR ruled his header out for an infringement, denying Die Mannschaft a dramatic breakthrough.
The match became increasingly physical in the closing stages, with Jamal Musiala fortunate to avoid a red card after a reckless challenge before both teams headed into penalties.
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Germany’s hopes quickly faded from the spot as Kai Havertz and substitute Nick Woltemade both failed to convert, allowing Paraguay to seal a famous 4-3 shootout victory and eliminate one of the tournament favourites.
It was another frustrating outing for Nagelsmann’s men, who once again dominated the ball but lacked creativity in the final third. Their inability to stretch Paraguay’s compact defensive shape made life easier for the South Americans, while the absence of a ruthless finisher proved costly when it mattered most.
Germany Player Ratings
Manuel Neuer – 6.5/10: Made an important early save to deny Junior Alonso and had little chance with Enciso’s header. Could do little during the shootout though he saved one penalty.
Joshua Kimmich – 5/10: Worked hard down the right but offered little attacking penetration and looked vulnerable defensively.
Jonathan Tah – 7/10: Germany’s standout defender. Dominant in aerial duels and unlucky to see his extra-time winner ruled out by VAR.
Antonio Rudiger – 6/10:Strong in one-on-one situations but couldn’t prevent Enciso from finding space for the opener.
Nathaniel Brown – 6/10: Showed promise going forward but was caught out defensively for Paraguay’s opening goal.
Felix Nmecha – 5/10: Failed to influence the midfield battle before being substituted at half-time.
Aleksandar Pavlovic – 4/10: A quiet display. Struggled to dictate possession and was largely ineffective.
Leroy Sane – 5/10: Had flashes of pace but lacked quality in the final ball and rarely threatened.
Florian Wirtz – 6/10: Quiet before producing a superb assist for Havertz’s equaliser. Improved after the break.
Kai Havertz – 6/10
Scored Germany’s only goal but saw his evening end in disappointment after missing from the penalty spot.
Deniz Undav – 5/10: Worked tirelessly but never looked like troubling Paraguay’s defenders.
Substitutes
- Leon Goretzka – 6/10
- Jamal Musiala – 7/10
- Waldemar Anton – 5/10
- Nick Woltemade – 5/10
- Malick Thiaw – 6/10
- Nadiem Amiri – 6/10
Read more about other World Cup teams in 2026 below:
Morocco national football team 2026
Argentina national football team 2026
Mexico national football team 2026
Spain national football team 2026
Brazil national football team 2026
France national football team 2026
Senegal national football team 2026