The goal that never was will haunt German football for years. Jonathan Tah thought he had scored a winner against Paraguay in extra time, only for VAR to rule it out for a soft shove by Waldemar Anton on goalkeeper Orlando Gill. The decision sparked chaos in Boston Stadium: boos from the German contingent, cheers from Paraguay fans, and one reporter's "Vamos!" in the press box. Referee Jalal Jayed, after reviewing the monitor, said: "After review, when the ball was in play, attacker No.3 prevented the goalkeeper from challenging the ball. Final decision: Foul." Paraguay's manager Gustavo Alfaro received a yellow card for his animated reaction.
The match, a last-32 World Cup tie, had already delivered a shock. Paraguay, 41st in the FIFA rankings, took a 42nd-minute lead through Julio Enciso, who headed in Matias Galarza's cross. Germany, ranked 10th and with 75% possession, struggled to break down a resilient side. Arsenal's Kai Havertz equalised early in the second half with a glancing header from Florian Wirtz's cross. But despite huffing and puffing, Germany could not find a winner in normal time or extra time—Tah's disallowed goal being their closest chance.
“Germany lost their first World Cup penalty shootout, falling 4-3 to Paraguay after a disallowed extra-time goal.”
Penalties then brought a new kind of agony. Germany had never lost a World Cup shootout, winning all four previous. But Havertz, the hero of the equaliser, saw his opening spot-kick saved by Gill—the same goalkeeper who had been fouled. Newcastle's Nick Woltemade also missed, and though Paraguay failed twice, Tah then blasted his attempt over, allowing defender Jose Canale to seal a 4-3 victory.
The front page of Tuesday's Bild newspaper summed it up: "The next German football nightmare." Germany have not reached a World Cup round of 16 since winning the tournament in 2014. Since then they have failed to get out of the group stage twice and now lost their first knockout match. "When you exit the World Cup after you play Paraguay it is very bitter. It is very hurtful," said Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann. "This is the third elimination in a row, so we are not part of the first-class teams any more."
Nagelsmann, appointed in 2023 after winning the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, oversaw a quarter-final exit at the 2024 Euros. Now his position is under scrutiny. Jürgen Klopp, cheerfully judging from the TV studio, may be licking his lips. Paraguay, meanwhile, march on to a last-16 tie in Philadelphia, celebrating the greatest result in their football history.