Paraguay breaks World Cup ghost as Germany crash out of World Cup

One of the lowest-ranked teams in the World Cup finals, Paraguay, has dumped out 2014 World Cup champions Germany, diminishing a ghost that has claimed the scalps of France, England and Argentina in the past.

The German national team has been riddled with injuries to the point where it has been dubbed the worst squad that the country has produced in living memory by famed pundit Gary Lineker.

With Julian Nagelsmann also out of favour with fans who booed the team in their pre-tournament friendlies, it was always going to be a difficult tournament.

But as some breakout stars like Felix Nmecha impressed, chipping in with goals on the opening fixture in which they put seven past Curacao, there looked to be enough firepower for Die Mannschaft to progress deep into the competition.

However, Germany has become the first giant to topple in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as they were eliminated by Paraguay in the Round of 32 stage.

Not only were they eliminated, though, Germany also broke their flawless record as Paraguay beat them from the spot.

Paraguay breaks Germany's flawless World Cup penalties record

Ranked 41st in the world, Paraguay defended an early goal with blood, sweat, and tears, managing to secure a draw and taking the game past the usual 90 minutes.

Rather fortunately, and controversially, VAR intervened to rule out what looked to be an extra-time winner from Jonathon Tah, whose headed goal was ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper.

'Germany doesn't lose shootouts' is the trope that we've heard for generations, as the nation has been famed for its clutch moments when it comes to penalties, and viewers expected to see the world-renowned stars hold their cool over the South American nation.

Things went from bad to worse for Tah, though, as he skied the decisive penalty, following Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade's earlier misses, as Paraguay inched through despite some nervous shots of their own.

Having faced five shootouts in World Cup history, the loss against Paraguay becomes the first time Germany has lost a shootout, diminishing one of the most famous tournament records.

The first of the penalty victories dates back to the 1982 Semi-Final, where they beat France 5-4, but went on to lose to Italy in the final.

Four years on, they beat Mexico on pens in the Quarter-Finals.

That trend continued again four years later, and it was England's time to face the wrath of the inch-perfect and unwavering Germans in the famous semi-final, which brought Paul Gascoigne to tears. They won again, and Lothar Matthaus hoisted the trophy a few days later.

Again, in 2006, Argentina were dumped from the Quarter-Finals to the hands of a German penalty shootout, with the flawless record earning an imperious reputation.

Nobody told Paraguay, though.

Paraguay might thank England too, as they broke German hearts in Euro 2020, ending their overall international tournament success that dates back 38 years.

They will undoubtedly be too busy celebrating their victory, as they gear up to claim another European giant in the Round of 16, as they await the winner of France vs Sweden.