Germany Falls To Paraguay In Knockouts

Paraguay Celebrates Round of 32 Victory. Photo Credit: Alexander Hassenstien Getty Images

Normally when you out shoot your opponent 21 to 7, with a 7 to 4 shots on target and control 75% of the game's possession, you would think a team would win said match. Instead, Germany felt the harsh reality of what the World Cup can bring when they lost to Paraguay in their Round of 32 match up.

Junior Alonso had a chance in just the 2nd minute of this match up off a corner, but the bounce was soft which let Neuer push it away and keep the score 0-0 early on. It was Canale for Paraguay who would make a big play on the opposite side on a ball played into the box as he was able to stretch out and keep the ball from getting to Havertz, who got positioned just inside the 6 yard box. Germany would keep the pressure off the ensuing corner but Wirtz sent the ball over the crossbar.

Paraguay would get a corner in the 42nd minute that Neuer would punch away but not out of harm's way as it would end up going to Galarza who would sent it across the box to Enciso who would head it home. Paraguay, who was on the defense the entire game, was able to find a way to make something from nothing near the end of the first half. Gill would make a quick stop in the 3rd minute of stoppage time to secure the 1-0 lead for Paraguay into halftime.

Paraguay would get another chance right off the start of the second half when a bad pass to Neuer was bounced, but Neuer would make the stop. Germany though would find the back of the net in the 54th minute when a deep ball from Wirtz would find Havertz, who would head the ball into the back of the net.

Both teams would have some chances but neither one had a strong chance until the 78th minute, when no other than Havertz would get a ball into the box that he would head at goal, but Gill would make a great diving stop. The second half would end 1-1 and extra time would be needed to see who would get the win and advance.

It was the 95th minute that Germany got the first chance in the extra time off a set piece just outside the 18 yard box. However, the direct shot would be punched away by Gill and the ensuing shot would be headed out for a corner. Nothing would come from the corner though.

It was the 102nd minute when Tah would put Germany up 2-1 off a corner that he would head in. The goal would not stand as contact between Anton and Gil, minimal as it was, would lead to the decision to wave the goal off. It was due to the fact that Anton was not playing the ball during the contact. So, the goal would not stand. That call made the entire stadium go silent as nobody could believe it.

Gill would make a huge stop in the 4th minute of the first extra time stoppage when Havertz’s headed pass would go just a tad too high and far, allowing Gill to make the save. Germany would have back to back corners and free kicks in the attacking zone, but Gill would constantly come up with the big stops to keep the score 1-1 and head into penalties.

Penalties would begin with Germany taking the first chance, and Havertz's shot would be pushed away by Gill. For Paraguay, it was Mauricio who would take the first shot and his would be just out of reach of Neuer. Paraguay led PK's 1-0.

Germany's next shooter would be Kimmich, who would stutter step confusing Gill into going right, and the shot would go left and into the goal. Gomez had Paraguay’s second shot which would go bottom right into the goal while Neuer would go dive left. Paraguay led 2-1 after the second round.

Gill would get to Musiala's shot who went 3rd for Germany, but his touch wasn't enough to slow it down as it would find the back of the net. Galarza took Paraguay’s 3rd shot and was calm and collected as he put it into the bottom left as Neuer would dive right. Paraguay still led, but it was now 3-2.

Gill would stop Woltemade's shot in the 4th round of penalties setting up a huge showdown between Neuer and Sanabria. The shot would go left, Neuer would go left; the ball, however would go wide left and not be a big threat for Neuer. Paraguay still led after 4 rounds, 3-2.

Amiri would come up in the 5th round with a chance to keep Germany's hopes alive in the World Cup. His shot would go into the bottom right corner as Gill made his biggest miscue in the PK's, diving to the left side. The threat was not over as a goal from Balbuena would end the game. However, for a split moment you would have thought we were watching 2014 Germany as Neuer would make a reaching diving save to keep Germany's hopes alive as the teams were tied at 3-3.

In the 6th round Tah would take the shot for Germany. His shot would go high and way over the net. He had Gill diving the opposite way, but the pressure was to much and he sailed it over the goal. This gave way to Canale to win the game for Paraguay, his shot would go high and to the right, Neuer would dive low and to the left. The result was the early upset of the knockout rounds as Canale's shot would go into the net and Paraguay would beat Germany 1-1 with penalties being deciding factor with a 4-3 advantage to Paraguay.

Manuel Neuer, Getty Images

With the loss an era has ended in Germany as Manuel Neuer, the man who has manned the goal for Germany since the 2010 World Cup which also seen him help them win the tournament in 2014, announced his retirement from international play. At 41 years old, its only a matter of time before he hangs up the boots in Munich on his very successful career.

Paraguay advances to the Round of 16 where they will face off against another top 5 team in the world, France which is led by Mbappe. Can they find a Cinderella like run or was this win their victory? Find out on July 4th.