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Paraguay has given every underdog reason to believe.
Germany was given a gripe to last a lifetime.
Germany looked set to advance to the Round of 16 at the World Cup for the first time in a dozen years after Jonathan Tah scored a go-ahead goal in the 102nd minute, but the four-time champion was blindsided by a video review that controversially wiped away the goal due to Waldemar Anton’s soft contact with goalkeeper Orlando Gill.
After extra time ended with the teams still tied 1-1, the 41st-ranked Paraguayans missed two clinching opportunities in the penalty shootout, then took advantage of Tah sailing a kick into the stands to claim a stunning upset on penalty kicks (4-3) Monday at Gillette Stadium, sealed by José Canale’s game-winning shot.
“I think we deserved one more game to be honest, considering everything that was said, everything we went through,” Canale said. “What I want to highlight from our team is how united we are. … [This] was a game we really needed to show our true colors.”
Coming off an upset loss to Ecuador, the Germans dug themselves another hole by surrendering the first goal to Julio Enciso in the 42nd minute.
Paraguay, which opened the World Cup with a 4-1 loss to the U.S. and finished third in the group stage, had never scored in its first four knockout appearances, including a 2002 Round of 16 loss to Germany.
The Germans controlled play, evening the match on a Kai Havertz header in the 54th minute, logging twice as many shots on goal and possessing the ball for three-quarters of the match, but left with its first-ever World Cup shootout loss — one that may never heal.
“We had very big plans for this World Cup,” Havertz said. “It’s very difficult to disappoint again.”
Paraguay will next play July 4 in Philadelphia, likely as an even bigger underdog against France.
Entering the knockout stage with three wins for the first time since winning the 1998 World Cup — as well as the best goal differential (plus-8) in group play — France has looked the part of the tournament favorite, seeking to become the first team since Brazil (1994-2002) to reach three straight World Cup finals.
But before they can reach the July 19 championship match at MetLife Stadium, France will face Sweden in the Round of 32 in New Jersey on Tuesday.
Led by Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé — who both rank among the tournament’s leaders with four goals each — France will welcome back longtime manager Didier Deschamps, who missed the team’s most recent match, following the death of his mother.
“I went through some difficult days,” Deschamps said Monday. “I was devastated … It was very hard, but for my own good and that of the French team, I had to leave … Since coming back, I’ve been focused.”
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Sweden (1-1-1), which reached the semifinals during the 1994 World Cup in the States, finished third in the group stage — just like Paraguay.
“I don’t think so much about whether we’re favorites or not … We’re going to do our best, and if we do that, we have a great chance to beat them,” midfielder Daniel Svensson told SVT. “They’re one of the favorites to win the whole thing, so of course they’re favorites [against us]. They are my favorites.”
Source: New York Post
