Germany had never lost a World Cup penalty shootout. Six attempts across tournament history, six victories. That streak, one of the most ironclad records in international football, died on June 29, 2026, in the most agonizing way imaginable.
Paraguay, ranked 34th in the world, knocked out the four-time champions 4-3 on penalties after the two sides drew 1-1 through 120 minutes. The decisive moment came when Jonathan Tah, a center-back with zero senior penalty kicks to his name, launched the ball over the crossbar in sudden death. It was the kind of miss that doesn’t just end a match. It ends an era.
How it unraveled
Manuel Neuer, 40 years old, did everything he could to keep his side alive. He saved two Paraguayan penalties during the shootout, including a stop from Fabián Balbuena.
But Germany missed three of their penalties. Kai Havertz missed. Woltemade missed. And then came the sixth round, the sudden death portion, where things got truly uncomfortable.
