Paraguay surprises Germany on penalties and could face France in the

Paraguay surprises Germany on penalties and could face France in the

According to Sports.

Context

Orlando Gill, the Paraguayan goalkeeper, played a fundamental role in his team's victory, saving a decisive penalty and maintaining the confidence of the Paraguayan defense. His performance could be a determining factor for Paraguay's performance in the next stages of the 2026 World Cup, where pressure and expectations will only increase.

Why this matters

Paraguay's victory over Germany on penalties is a significant milestone in the history of the 2026 World Cup, highlighting the emerging strength of Paraguayan football. With players like Orlando Gill, who had a crucial performance in saving Kai Havertz's penalty, Paraguay demonstrates that it can compete with the powers of world football, increasing its chances of advancing in the knockout stages.

Main conclusions

• Paraguay surprises Germany on penalties and could face France in the final.
• Paraguay made history by beating Germany on penalties, after an exciting game that ended in a draw in normal time.
• France to potentially play Paraguay as Germany stunned in World Cup round of 32 - Yahoo Sports.

The 2026 World Cup is already full of emotions, and one of the biggest surprises came in this group stage with Paraguay eliminating the powerful Germany in an electrifying duel that ended 4-3 on penalties. The match was marked by a balanced first half, where Paraguay, known as Albirroja, opened the scoring with a goal from Enciso, from Strasbourg, who headed the ball into the back of the net after a precise cross from Matías Galarza, who made a play on the right. Germany, which had a star-studded squad, was undeterred and returned for the second half with a more offensive stance. Kai Havertz managed to score the equalizer after a cross from Florian Wirtz, showing the strength of the German attack. The game remained tight, and even with the pressure from the European team, the Paraguayan defense proved to be extremely solid, holding the tie until the final whistle and taking the match to extra time. In extra time, Germany had two great opportunities, but a goal by Jonathan Tah was disallowed after a VAR review, which indicated that Waldemar Anton had fouled the opposing goalkeeper, Orlando Gill. The atmosphere was one of pure tension, and the match culminated in an electrifying penalty shootout. Gill, the Paraguayan goalkeeper, shone when he saved Havertz's shot, giving Paraguay a crucial advantage. After several charges, it was José Canale who became the hero of the night, converting the decisive penalty that put Paraguay in the next stage of the competition. This historic victory made Paraguay celebrate not only reaching the round of 16, but also the possibility of facing France, who play Sweden this Wednesday. The last confrontation between Paraguay and France in World Cups was in 1998, where theFrench won in a match marked by Laurent Blanc's famous victory in extra time. With this victory, Paraguay shows its strength and ambition in the tournament, and all eyes are now focused on the duel against the French team, which promises to be another exciting chapter in the history of the 2026 World Cup.

What happens next

With this victory, Paraguay prepares for a possible clash against France in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. The team, led by Orlando Gill and other talents such as Matías Galarza and Miguel Almirón, will seek to continue their surprising trajectory, facing one of the favorites for the title.