Germany (3)1-1(4) Paraguay - 2026 World Cup Match Report and Player Ratings

Germany fall to gutsy Paraguay who make history and advance to round of 16

Germany vs Paraguay may not have been the most glamorous of games, but it produced what will be remembered as one of the greatest scalps in World Cup history.

Paraguay were, quite frankly, unbelievable defensively and, paired with a lacklustre performance from the Germans, put in one of the best minnow performances we have seen for a very, very long time to come out on top in a nail-biting penalty shoot-out.

Germany (3)1-1(4) Paraguay as it happened

Germany may have been strong favourites to advance, but it was the underdogs who began quicker with Paraguay, more specifically Julio Enciso, sticking a corner right into the danger area.

Kai Havertz then saw a ball nicked off his toe by Jose Canale inside the six-yard box. The resulting corner produced a couple of half-chances, which ultimately ended in Florian Wirtz channelling every bit of his Liverpool form to send a half-volley well wide of the post.

The game then settled into the widely expected flow. The Paraguayans performing a footballing rendition of Robbie Williams' 'Millennium' – specifically the part where he says, 'Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough' – and Germany keeping the ball but not really doing much to answer the questions posed by their round of 32 opponents.

That was until the 41st minute anyway...

A rare Paraguayan forray into their opponents half brought a corner.

Manuel Neuer punched clear but only as far as a crunching tackle by Juan Caceres that kept the ball alive. Almiron's heroics continued as he drew in two German defenders which allowed a darting Matias Galarza to make an unmarked overlapping run.

Galarza swung an excellent ball into the box which was met by the arriving head of the dangerous Julio Enciso, who made it three goal involvements at the tournament thus far.

It was everything Germany deserved for their toothless performance to that point, and one can only assume that Julian Nagelsmann was already preparing the hairdryer as Neuer's net rippled.

Half-time: Germany 0-1 Paraguay

Crosses into the box. That was the most obvious instruction Nagelsmann had given his lacklustre men at half time.

Yet, it was the minnows who once again had the first chance of the half. Joshua Kimmich failed to check his mirrors properly and was caught by the hungry Julio Enciso who couldn't quite nick the ball past the onrushing Neuer and Germany were let off in a big way.

Paraguay would ultimately pay for missing that chance just four minutes later in the 54th. Florian Wirtz collected the ball on the left and fired a straight ball into the box. Kai Havertz was first to react and flicked the ball on, past the helpless Gill and into the bottom corner.

Whilst many may have assumed a forgone conclusion that the goal would be the catalyst for a much greater impetus in the play of the Europeans, that wasn't really the case barring prolonged period of meaningless possession.

In the 76th minute, Mauricio spun a perfectly weighted ball in behind for an on-rushing Caballero. The forward took too long with his chance and was well tackled, although the flag did go up anyway and saved his blushes on what could have been THE moment for Paraguay.

Germany quickly responded, with Havertz again putting his head to good use and meeting yet another cross. Gill was equal to it, though, and kept the score level in expert fashion.

The final ten minutes or so were more or less anonymous, and the final whistle marked the first game at the 2026 World Cup heading to extra time... how exciting.

Full time: Germany 1-1 Paraguay

If you were wondering what groundhog day is in German, just watch the first period of extra time and you'll see it.

Nagelsmann's side were again privy to almost all of the ball. The most worthy chance came eight minutes in, but, as if possessed by Paolo Maldini himself, Canale continued his monstrous performance with yet another lunging block.

In the 12th minute of extra time Nathaniel Brown swung a delightful one of his trademark corners into the box to the back post to which the otherwise rather underwhelming Jonathan Tah rose highest to power the ball into the net.

But VAR was having none of it and the goal was ruled out for a foul on the 6"5' goalkeeper who went down like what can only be described as a sack of potatoes. It seemed exceptionally soft, but the referee deemed the block to be impactful to the keeper's ability to get to the ball and disallowed the goal.

That was the catalyst for the game to spring into life, finally. Chances at both ends ended in ultimately unwarranted excitment as neither troubled the back of the net but it looked as though a possibly decisive goal was edging nearer. That was until the half time whistle... for goodness sake.

Half Time in extra time: Germany 1-1 Paraguay

The second half was once again more of the same. Germany with the ball, Paraguay resolute in their quest to prevent the Europeans hunt for a winner.

Bloody and fury was perhaps the most astute description of the remainder.

Musiala provided the moment with the most impetus, but it was nothing to do with a goalscoring opportunity. The Bayern Munich man was furious about not getting a free kick and subsequently scythed down Galarza in a revenge tackle that, quite easily could have been a career ender on a different day.

Galarza would then get his own back just a minute later with a challenge of his own that warranted a yellow card.

Anton had the biggest chance in the 28th minute of extra time, with a header from four yards out straight down the throat of Gill in the Paraguay goal.

Galarza then committed another rather bullish foul, which handed Germany a free kick that Amiri could only put into the side netting.

That would ultimately be the last act... penalties it was.

Full time in extra time: Germany 1-1 Paraguay

First penalty. Some Orlando Gill mind games made Havertz wait, and, with a little stutter in his step, the Arsenal man saw his spot kick saved by the big Paraguayan.

Mauricio was up first for Paraguay and stuck his spot kick comfortably into the corner, Neuer had no chance. Germany captain Joshua Kimmich follows suit, sending Gill the wrong way.

The next two were both scored by Gomez and Musiala respectively before Galarza slotted coolly for Paraguay.

Woltemade stepped up next and, of course he did because I'm the one writing this, saw Gill pull off an excellent save to his left.

But, saving his blushes, Antonio Sanabria stepped up with a chance to his nation through to the last 16 but struck awfully wide of the left-hand post.

Amiri was the next for Germany, and he put his spot kick away. 40-year-old Manuel Neuer decided it was his time to step up and dived to his right-hand side to palm away the tame spot kick by Balbuena.

With the score even at 3-3 and one kick left for both, Gabriel Magalhaes... I mean... Jonathan Tah was trusted. It's safe to say he shouldn't have been.

The centre back sent his penalty into orbit and put his side on the brink of elimination.

Who better to win it for Paraguay than Jose Canale? In his first ever World Cup start, the centre-back placed the ball down on the spot and prepared himself to make history, and boy did he do just that.

A powerful strike that left Neuer with no chance.

Paraguay had done it, and it was nothing less than they deserved.

The minnows made Germany look pathetic for 120 minutes, thrived on the adversity throughout and took a scalp that will be remembered for a very long time all over the world.

Germany match ratings

Neuer - 7

Kimmich - 5 Tah - 3 Rudiger - 5 Brown - 6

Nmecha - 3 Pavlovic - 4 Havertz - 6

Sane - 3 Wirtz - 6 Undav - 3

Substitutes

Leon Goretzka (46') - 7 Musiala (63') - 5 Anton (79') - 4 Woltemade (88') - 5 (as much as it pains me) Thiaw (110') - 5 (again, as much as it pains me) Amiri (110') - 6

Paraguay match ratings

Gill - 9

Caceres - 7 Gomez - 7 Canale - 9 Alonso - 8

Almiron - 8 Bobadilla - 8 Cubas - 7 Galarza - 8

Avalos - 6 Enciso - 9

Subsitutes

Caballero (55') - 5 Mauricio (57') - 8 Velazquez (91') - 6 Ojeda (99') - 7 Sanabria (99') - 5

Man of the Match: Jose Canale

It could literally have gone to any of the Paraguayans. Perhaps Orlando Gill will be the most disappointed to not get the award, but Jose Canale is more than a worthy winner.

Not only did he act as the human personification of a brick wall for 120 minutes, he then scored the historic penalty under the most overwhelming of pressure to send his nation through in his fist ever World Cup start.

Iconic.