Another giant falls. Four-time champions Germany are out of the 2026 World Cup, beaten by Paraguay after a 1-1 draw and a 4-3 penalty shootout loss. (ESPN)

How the unthinkable happened

Julio Enciso headed Paraguay ahead on 42; Kai Havertz levelled, but a Jonathan Tah header was ruled out by VAR in extra time.

The shootout nightmare

Havertz, Tah and Woltemade all missed — and for the first time in their history, Germany lost a World Cup shootout, once the byword for spot-kick nerve.

What it means

German football's big-tournament crisis deepens, while Paraguay write a story of pure will. Big names no longer guarantee anything. Follow Malaab Al-An for every twist of World Cup 2026.