Disallowed Extra-Time Goal Sees Paraguay Eliminate Germany on Penalties in World Cup Shock

Germany’s World Cup ended in shock on Monday night with a 4-3 penalty shootout loss to Paraguay after a 1-1 draw following extra time in the round of 32, and coach Julian Nagelsmann reacted by calling the disallowed extra-time winner “a joke” while also making clear he wants to stay in charge.

At Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Paraguay went ahead in the 42nd minute through Julio Enciso before Germany equalized in the 54th through Kai Havertz. Germany then thought it had won the match in extra time when Jonathan Tah scored in the 102nd minute, only for the goal to be ruled out after a VAR review found a foul by Waldemar Anton on Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill in the buildup. In the shootout, Gill saved efforts from Havertz and Nick Woltemade, and although Manuel Neuer stopped Fabian Balbuena’s penalty and Antonio Sanabria also missed for Paraguay, Germany fell after Tah fired over and José Canale converted the winner in sudden death.

Nagelsmann said afterward that Germany had failed to make its control count. “We were in control, but we lacked that cutting edge,” he said, according to Bundesliga.com. He was even more direct about the overturned goal, saying: “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.”

The Germany coach, in his first direct comments on his own future after the defeat, also said he wants to remain in the job. “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,” he said via Bundesliga.com. Nagelsmann has been Germany coach since September 2023, but no official German federation decision on his future was included in the sourced material.

Germany captain Manuel Neuer also pointed to a shortage of chances rather than only the disputed decision. “We didn’t have the bite or the bit of luck needed to win today. But we simply didn’t create enough chances,” Neuer said via Bundesliga.com. He added: “We simply have to win against an opponent like that.”

Havertz, who scored Germany’s equalizer but also had his penalty saved, offered a brief apology. “I don’t have much to say. I’m lost for words,” he said, according to Bundesliga.com. “The only thing I can say is I’m sorry.”

For Germany, the defeat extended a grim run at the World Cup. The four-time champions have not won a knockout match in the tournament since lifting the trophy in 2014. They went out in the group stage in 2018 and 2022, and this was their first World Cup shootout defeat.

For Paraguay, ranked well below Germany before the match, it was a landmark result. The South Americans advanced to the round of 16 for the first time since 2010 and will next face the winner of France against Sweden on July 4 in Philadelphia.