Don't Change your Canale, Paraguay are through!

75/104ths of the World Cup

  

 

 

Germany are one of the favorites to win the World Cup, an achievement that would be their 5th title and tie them with Brazil for most of all time. Standing in their way were Paraguay who are more than familiar with Brazil for other reasons. Paraguay would strike surprisingly first through Julio Enciso in the 42nd minute. Germany would have a nervy 15 minutes of halftime before coming back out to try and sway momentum to their side. Kai Havertz would be the hero tying the match at 1 goal in the 54th minute. Try as both teams might, there was no break to the deadlock. 30 minutes of extra time could not separate the two sides, and so we saw the tournament's first elimination on penalty kicks. 

Germany would have the privilege of shooting first. Enter Kai Havertz, the hero who scored the goal to tie the match. His shot would go just to the left of Paraguayan keeper Orlando Gil, who would swat the ball way with his right hand. Mauricio would go first for Paraguay, and place the ball perfectly just out of reach of Manuel Neuer diving to his left.

Joshua Kimmich would step up for Germany trailing 0-1. He would send Orland Gil to his left and place the ball to opposite corner. Gustavo Gomez would step forward for Paraguay to keep the pressure on. Gomez would shoot to the bottom right corner of the goal as Manuel Neuer dove the wrong way.

Jamal Musiala would shoot next hoping to keep Germany in the shootout trailing 1-2. Jamal's shot to the lower left corner of the goal would slip past the diving hand of Orlando Gil. Matias Galarza would come forward to try and match Musiala's goal. He would gently put the ball to the lower left corner of the goal as Manuel Neuer again dove the wrong way.

Nick Woltemade took his attempt at beating Orlando Gil in an attempt to draw level after trailing 2-3. He would also try to beat Gil to the keeper's left, but put the shot too close to the middle of goal. The falling Orlando would save his second shot. Antonio Sanabria would step up with the chance to seal the win for Paraguay. His shot would sail wide left and give Germany life.

Nadiem Amiri was next for Germany in a must score position to give his side life. He would bury his shot to the right as Orlando Gil would dive the wrong direction. Tied at 3, Germany needed a Manuel Neuer save. Fabian Balbuena would step up with a chance to finish the shootout. Balbuena would shoot right, but find Manuel Neuer making the save.

With momentum on Germany's side at 3-3, Jonathan Tah would step up trying to give Germany their first lead in the shootout in the first sudden death round. He would sky the ball up and to the left of the goal failing to get on target. That put Jose Canale in the opportunity of his lifetime. His shot would fire to the upper right corner of the goal. Manuel Neuer would dive the goal's left. Jose Canale and Paraguay live to fight another day. They await the winner of France and Sweden.