Germany, a nation that has built its footballing identity on penalty shootout dominance, just lost one at the World Cup for the first time in history. Paraguay knocked out the four-time champions 4-3 on penalties in the Round of 32 on June 29, sending shockwaves through Foxborough, Massachusetts, and every prediction market with a pulse.
The match ended 1-1 after regulation.
How Germany’s penalty mystique finally cracked
Three German players missed from the spot. Kai Havertz and Jonathan Tah both failed to convert, and a third miss sealed Germany’s fate.
Paraguay’s José Canale stepped up for the decisive kick in sudden death. He buried it. A country of roughly 7 million people just eliminated a nation of 84 million that practically invented tournament efficiency.
