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Paraguay Wins Penalty Shootout Over Germany 4-3

6/30/2026

Summary

Paraguay Beats Germany

Paraguay beat Germany 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Gillette Stadium.
Julio Enciso (forward) scored in minute 42 from Matías Galarza (right-winger) cross, with Kai Havertz (forward) equalizing in minute 54 from Florian Wirtz (winger) cross.
VAR ruled that defender Waldemar Anton fouled goalkeeper Orlando Gill, cancelling Jonathan Tah header and missing Germany’s fifth penalty, and that José Canale scored spot-kick to send Paraguay to face France-Sweden victor.

Summary

Paraguay Upsets Germany

Coach Gustavo Alfaro called the win extraordinary and said his plan forced Germany into low-possession play.
He said the hot Massachusetts weather limited stamina, forcing energy conservation after halftime.
Goalkeeper Orlando Gill explained that studying each opponent helped him anticipate and stop two German penalties.
Julio Enciso scored Paraguay’s first knockout-stage goal with a first-half header before suffering a second-half injury.

History

Historical Context

In July 1998 Croatia shocked Germany with a 3-0 quarter-final win, avenging the Euro 1996 loss. Over two decades later, Paraguay repeated the pattern, defeating Germany in a 2024 penalty shoot-out at Gillette Stadium. Both upsets forced German coach Julian Nagelsmann to rethink the national team’s significant tactical rigidity across Europe.

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Paraguay Beats Germany

Paraguay beat Germany 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Gillette Stadium.
Julio Enciso (forward) scored in minute 42 from Matías Galarza (right-winger) cross, with Kai Havertz (forward) equalizing in minute 54 from Florian Wirtz (winger) cross.
VAR ruled that defender Waldemar Anton fouled goalkeeper Orlando Gill, cancelling Jonathan Tah header and missing Germany’s fifth penalty, and that José Canale scored spot-kick to send Paraguay to face France-Sweden victor.

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