Germany v Paraguay
Play By Play
Stop and take it all in! The unthinkable has happened as Germany lose 4-3 on penalties to Paraguay after a turgid game in Massachusetts ends 1-1. Valiant defending and near-masterful determination are the orders of the day, as La Albirroja go against the odds to knock out the four-time World Champions at their own game. Alfaro's underdogs soaked up a ridiculous amount of pressure before snatching the lead against the run of play in the first half. Just before the break, as Paraguay headed, kicked, and threw themselves at everything that came their way, a rare breakout brought a corner. Almiron took it, forcing Neuer to punch. A sliding Bombadilla then kept the move alive, sending the ball back out wide for Galarza to send in a great cross for Enciso to charge onto and nod down past global goalkeeping royalty. After the break, Germany wasted little time with Havertz flicking a deft header past Gill to restore parity in the 54th minute. However, despite what looked like a headed extra-time winner from Tah, VAR chalked it off as the ever-busy Gill was controversially blocked off by Anton. Following some ugly scenes of battle in the dying embers, as both sides worked frenetically around their respective 1.49 and 0.42 xG, it would be Paraguay who progressed with tears of joy. Tah's penalty miss was the key as Germany thought they'd got back in following a misfire from Sanabria and a Neuer save from Balbuena. These spared earlier 12-yard blushes for Havertz and Woltemade as Gill saved superbly. Canale, a monumental poster boy for Paraguay's no-frills defensive style, finished off emphatically, sending Neuer the wrong way to smash high into the right of the goal. What a moment for Paraguay, as they become the second South American side to head through. They'll face either France or Sweden in the Round of 16. That's all from us, goodbye!
FULL-TIME AFTER EXTRA TIME AND PENALTIES: GERMANY 1-1 PARAGUAY (3-4 ON PENALTIES)
GOOOOOOAAAALLLLLL! HOLD THE BACK PAGE! CANALE MAKES HISTORY FOR PARAGUAY! LA ALBIRROJA KNOCK OUT THE GERMAN PENALTY KINGS AS THE TOWERING CENTRE-BACK POWERS PAST NEUER!
NEUER! GERMAN GOALKEEPING GREATNESS BREATHES MORE LIFE INTO THIS SHOOTOUT! Balbuena goes tamely to the right, and the 40-year-old parries away! It remains 3-3!
NO MISTAKE FROM AMIRI! How are your nerves, Paraguay? Gill dives left, with Amiri going right with aplomb! 3-3!
SANABRIA! THAT'S A WOEFUL PENALTY! Germany cling on as the Cremonese striker whizzes a rogue effort wide of the left post!
WOLTEMADE.... IT'S SAVED BY GILL! PARAGUAY ARE A KICK AWAY FROM THE NEXT ROUND! It's an OUTSTANDING stop in the bottom-right corner!
HOW ABOUT THAT FOR COMPOSURE! Galarza sends Neuer fliying to the right while calmly passing into the bottom left! 3-2!
MUSIALA JUST EVADES THE GLOVES OF GILL! The crowd can't help but sigh as they see the Bayern man just squeeze it in! 2-2!
GERMANY ARE ON THE BOARD! 1-1! Kimmich sends Gill diving to the right, while slotting it coolly into the bottom-left corner!
GOMEZ! The centre-back captain scores with the poise of a centre-forward as he sends Neuer to the left! 2-1!
MAGIC FROM MAURICIO AS HE EMPHATICALLY WHIPS HIS PENALTY PAST NEUER! It's 1-0 Paraguay!
GILL SAVES HAVERTZ'S PENALTY! The Arsenal man goes for the stop-start shuffle, and the six-foot-six Paraguayan stopper reads it superbly! Great stop to keep it 0-0!
After the captains meet, it looks like the penalties will be taken in front of the German end, with Die Mannschaft kicking first! It'll be Havertz to get us started from the spot...
Penalties it is then, as Germany and Paraguay just can't be separated at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough. After goals in either half of regular time from Enciso against the run of play, and Havertz, in what feels like a millennia ago, drama in the depths of extra-time saw Tah's header rule out for a foul on the otherwise-outstanding Gill, who weakly reacted to a blocking Anton in the six-yard box. There were some further flashpoints as German frustrations continued with bookings for either side. Yet, we end even, only to be settled by composure from 12 yards!
One old head is replaced by another, as Alonso makes way for former West Ham man, Fabian Balbuena.
There'll be two more minutes of added time, as Amiri belts the free-kick into the right side netting.
Brilliant Musiala footwork gets Germany into the Paraguayan territory. Galarza is penalised now for body-checking Havertz on the right. This is in shooting range!
Woltemade's presence helps Germany win a late corner now. Brown trudges out to take this, the 16th corner. Anton heads it down and GILL CATCHES IT ON THE LINE! Anywhere but there, it's straight at the keeper!
It's getting a bit silly now. Galarza clips at the heels of Musiala, almost in revenge for that dreadful prior tackle. The Paraguayan joins Musiala in the book. Now, now.
MUSIALA! That is a horrible challenge from the young German star! Galarza, just moments after some awful play-acting, gets away with a foul on the Bayern man. He then jogs back and pokes it through Musiala's legs, while the midfielder absolutely SCYTHES him down. He goes flipping to the turf and Musiala is booked. That could've been a lot worse there.
Musiala is wiped out by Alonso. It'll be a free-kick for Germany, while it looks like the defender landed awkwardly. In the post-foul melee, Kimmich pokes the ball-holding Galarza in the ribs and the midfielder dives in quite pathetic fashion. Gill then claims the free-kick delivery from the right with aplomb.
Paraguay have numbers forward in attack, but gradually lose momentum on the counter as Caballero has little in the way of options in front of him.
The weary legs of Rudiger are now replaced by that of Newcastle's Malick Thiaw.
Game Information
Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA
Referee:Jalal Jayed
FIFA World Cup News
World Cup Daily live: Spain score twice to defeat France, become first finalist
16m
Deschamps: Was the referee good enough for a World Cup semifinal?
18m
Prepare yourself for the ultimate day of sport -- mark your calendars
40m
