Germany eliminated by Paraguay in penalty shootout at FIFA World Cup 2026
Quick summary
Germany suffered a shock elimination at the hands of Paraguay, losing on penalties at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Coach Julian Nagelsmann and players Kai Havertz and Manuel Neuer reacted to the stunning defeat.
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Attributed to original sourceJulian Nagelsmann (head coach): “We just took too long to start playing down the wings. As the game went on, we tried to force the issue and created more in the penalty area. We were in control, but we lacked that cutting edge. It’s a joke that our goal was disallowed, but at the end of the day, you have to say that it simply wasn’t enough. I’m very disappointed because I feel we have a very cohesive team; the impression from training has always been good. No one is deliberately letting the side down. I feel sorry for all the fans in the stadium and at home. I’m ready, would love to prepare for the Euros and the Nations League. If I’m no longer wanted, then they’ll have to talk to me.”
Manuel Neuer : “The coach has had a few words to say to us. We’re all very sad. We didn’t have the bite or the bit of luck needed to win today. But we simply didn’t create enough chances. We lacked the means and the cutting edge. It might have been easier in the shootout if one or two of the players had built up more confidence from clear chances, either during the tournament or in today’s match. Paraguay missed twice – that really should have been enough to win here. But I’m more concerned about the match itself. We simply have to win against an opponent like that.”
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What happened
Germany were knocked out of the FIFA World Cup 2026 by Paraguay in a penalty shootout, one of the biggest upsets in recent World Cup history. Coach Julian Nagelsmann, veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, and forward Kai Havertz all shared their reactions to the defeat. The result ends Germany's campaign and represents a historic achievement for Paraguay, who advance past one of the tournament's traditional heavyweights. The reactions highlight the disappointment within the German camp and the magnitude of the result for South American football.
Chance analysis
This is a tournament-defining upset: Germany, a perennial World Cup contender, eliminated in a shootout by Paraguay, a nation rarely expected to progress past the group stage at this level. The result will intensify scrutiny on Nagelsmann's tenure and accelerate questions about a generational transition for Die Mannschaft. For Paraguay, it cements a statement performance and boosts their tournament credibility. Downstream effects include potential shifts in FIFA rankings, market re-evaluations of German players, and heightened pressure on the DFB to restructure ahead of subsequent competitions.
Germany are eliminated from the World Cup 2026, ending their tournament and likely triggering major post-tournament reassessment, while Paraguay advance in a historic upset.
Germany's elimination removes a traditional favorite from the World Cup and significantly reshapes the tournament bracket and outright markets.