Orlando Gill of Paraguay roared with delight as Germany's Jonathan Tah fired his effort over the bar. The moment ended a penalty shootout streak that had defined international football for half a century. Germany, four-time winners of the World Cup, were out of the 2026 tournament, losing 4-3 on penalties to Paraguay in Boston on Monday after a last-32 tie that finished 1-1 after extra time.
Until this defeat, Germany had won six consecutive shootouts in all competitions. Their only previous loss came in 1976, when Antonín Panenka's legendary spot-kick condemned West Germany to a 5-3 defeat in the European Championship semi-final. What followed became the stuff of legend: 22 consecutive penalties scored in major tournament shootouts. After Uli Stielike's effort was saved by France's Jean-Luc Ettori in the 1982 World Cup semi-final, Germany scored 15 straight World Cup penalties against France, Mexico, England and Argentina. All six takers beat England's David Seaman in Euro 96.
“Germany knocked out of World Cup by Paraguay 4-3 on penalties, ending 50-year shootout streak.”
But the record could not last forever. In 2016, Thomas Müller had a penalty saved by Gianluigi Buffon, ending the run of 22. Now it came crashing down in Boston. Three Germans missed against Paraguay. Tah's failure was perhaps unsurprising – he had not previously taken a spot-kick. Kai Havertz, however, had a record of 23 successes out of 24, while Nick Woltemade had scored 16 from 18. Both missed. Paraguay’s José Canale made no such mistake, slamming his kick just under the bar. Opta's post-shot expected goal model rated it 99% likely to be scored – as close to unstoppable as possible.
The winners will face either France or Sweden in the last 16, after France meet Sweden in their own last-32 tie. For Germany, a 50-year dominance from the spot is over.