A Germany he was overcome this Monday (29) at Paraguay on penalties. The German team said goodbye has World Cup 2026. The Paraguayan team goes to the round of 16. The match took place at Gillette Stadium, in Foxborough, in the United States.
Germany, which took first place in its group, was coming off a 2-1 defeat to Ecuadorafter a 7-1 victory in Curaçao and a 2-1 victory against Ivory Coast. Julian Nagelsmann’s team was the clear favorite in the match.
Paraguay reached the round of 16 stage stumbling along the way. They lost shamefully to the United States in their debut 4-1, beat Turkey 1-0 and drew with Australia in a very ugly 0-0.
Germany started the match with Deniz Undav, who scored three goals and provided two assists until this World Cup game. Jamal Musiala gave way to the VfB Stuttgart striker.
Despite Germany’s undisputed dominance in the game, with 79% possession in the first half, Whoever scores the most goals wins. Paraguay, who bravely defended themselves, scored their goal with a quick ball steal in attack and cross for Julio Enciso to open the scoring. The defensive plan was paying off.
In the second half, Germany continued to control the match and managed to equalize with a Kai Havertz’s header right at the beginning of the stage, but the South Americans’ defense was good enough to take the game to extra time.
Paraguayan strategy
Paraguay had the first dangerous chance of the game. Junior Alonso finished at second half unmarked after a corner kick, but stopped at Manuel Neuer.
Germany responded with a cross that was intercepted by Paraguayan defender José Canele and went close to the post after the cut. After 20 minutes, the match had turned out exactly what was expected. Paraguay closed down and left Germany with the ball, who were looking for alternatives to break the good defensive scheme.
Os Europeans had 83% of the ball possession after 25 minutes of the first half and had only finished three times. Paraguay sneaked in at the end of the first half on a corner.
After the charge was cut off by the German defense, Damián Bobadilla recovered the ball before counterattacking, passing to Matías Galarza crossed and found Julio Enciso to open the scoring. Coach Gustavo Alfaro’s strategy was working. Paraguay managed to end the first half getting what they wanted.
Second half
A Germany continued to play exactly as in the first half. However, this time the answer came quickly. On a cross from Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz rose to head between the defenders and equalize the score in Boston.
Musiala came on for Undav around 15 minutes into the second half. The striker did not repeat his good performances in the World Cup.
Havertz and Wirtz moved throughout the offensive range and posed danger to Paraguay’s goal. Shirt 7 headed anotherbut this time it stopped at goalkeeper Orlando Gill.
The tired Paraguay team already had difficulty clearing the ball at the end of the match and made a series of mistakes. The best example of this was Bobadilla, which fell to the ground with muscle pain during Germany’s attack and got up limping.
Regular time ended in a draw, taking the match into extra time.
No goals
In extra time, the German blitz continued and gave no rest to the Paraguayan defense. Gustavo Gomez and José Canale already made 28 cuts in the match.
However, at some point the defense would open up space. Jonathan Tah, a 1.94m defender, sent the ball into the net after a cross from the second post.
Judge Jalal Jayed, however, found Waldemar Anton’s move foul in the goalkeeper and the goal was disallowed.
In the second stage of extra time, Paraguay surprisingly started to attack the ball a few times. attack and have the ball in your offensive field.
The strategy now seemed more like resting the team than scoring the winning goal.
Anton had the chance to score that goal for Germany, but stopped at goalkeeper Orlando Gill, who was playing well. The match went to penalties.
