Paraguay produced one of this World Cup's biggest shocks in the Round of 32, beating Germany 4-3 in a penalty shootout after normal time ended 1-1. The tie stayed level for the full 90 minutes before the contest was decided from the spot, where Paraguay held their nerve better than their more decorated opponents.
The result is a painful one for German football. This was Germany's first knockout match since they won the World Cup title in 2014, meaning the team was finally back on the knockout stage after a long gap. Instead of a celebration, that long-awaited return turned into heartbreak, as Germany were eliminated in this very match.
How the match unfolded
Regulation time was a tightly contested affair, with both sides finding the net once to leave the score locked at 1-1. Because it was a knockout fixture, the tie could not end in a draw, and the match went the distance, first through extra time and eventually down to a penalty shootout to separate the two sides.
Paraguay hold their nerve in the shootout
Paraguay came out on top 4-3 in the shootout. The narrow margin doesn't take away from the scale of the achievement, beating a former World Cup winning nation on penalties on football's biggest stage is a significant result for Paraguay, who now look like serious contenders heading into the next stage of the tournament.
A historic setback for Germany
For Germany, the exit stings on two counts. First, this was their first knockout appearance since lifting the trophy in 2014, a long-awaited return to that stage of the competition. Second, that comeback ended almost as soon as it began, with elimination coming in this very fixture. The defeat is likely to reignite familiar questions about Germany's ability to handle pressure in knockout football.
Part of a bigger Round of 32 storyline
This clash was part of a broader stretch of Round of 32 fixtures drawing attention from football fans, which also includes a match between Netherlands and Morocco. Germany's exit adds to the drama of this round, underlining that even traditionally powerful teams are finding it difficult to guarantee progress this time around.
