Paraguay’s finest hour: Four-time champions Germany sent packing in RO32

Every FIFA World Cup leaves behind a story that goes beyond the trophy itself. In the early hours of Tuesday, June 30, the story belonged to Paraguay.

Led by the formidable Orlando Gill, La Albirroja stared down four-time champions Germany for 120 grueling minutes before winning in a nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out to set the stage for the biggest night in the nation’s football history.

Germany defender Jonathan Tah blazed his sixth penalty over the bar before Jose Canale calmly converted the decisive spot-kick to seal a 4-3 shootout victory after the sides finished 1-1 after extra time. It was Germany’s first-ever World Cup penalty shoot-out defeat and another painful chapter in a relegation that has seen the four-time champions suffer two group stage exits and a Round of 32 exit in the last three editions.

For Paraguay, meanwhile, it was a result that will be talked about for generations.

(more to follow)

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Issued by:

Amar Panicker

Published on:

30 Jun 2026 05:30 IST