Germany lose their first World Cup shootout, and the Netherlands who drew Japan go out too

Germany, beaten from the spot for the first time

Germany had never lost a World Cup penalty shootout. That record is gone. In Foxborough, Paraguay's Julio Enciso headed them in front in the 42nd minute from a Matias Galarza cross, Kai Havertz levelled after the break with a header off Florian Wirtz's delivery, and a Jonathan Tah goal in extra time was ruled out by VAR for a foul on the goalkeeper. It finished 1-1 and went to penalties.

The shootout exposed Germany. Havertz missed the opening kick; Nick Woltemade and Tah missed too. Paraguay keeper Orlando Gill saved twice, and Jose Canale drove in the decisive spot-kick for a 4-3 win. Four-time champions, once treated as automatic from twelve yards, are out in the last 32 — one of the biggest knockout upsets the tournament has produced.

The Netherlands, the side Japan held, also fell on penalties

Hours later in Monterrey, the Netherlands were a minute from the last 16. Cody Gakpo had put them ahead in the second half, but Issa Diop headed Morocco level in first-half-style stoppage at the death, and Bart Verbruggen had to deny Soufiane Rahimi one-on-one in the 96th. In the shootout, Yassine Bounou saved Crysencio Summerville's kick and Ismael Saibari buried the winner: Morocco 3-2.

For readers in Japan the Netherlands are not a distant name. On June 14 in Dallas, Japan came from behind twice to draw them 2-2 — Virgil van Dijk and Summerville scoring for the Dutch, Nakamura and a Daichi Kamada goal in the 89th replying for Japan. The side Japan matched blow for blow could not get past the round of 32 either.

The giant-killers are the story now

What is left is Paraguay and Morocco. Morocco, semi-finalists in 2022 and the first African and Arab team to reach that stage, now meet co-hosts Canada in the last 16 on July 5 Japan time. Paraguay, who knocked out the Germans, take on France the same day. For anyone in Japan who lost their team on June 30 and is looking for who to follow next, those are the two ties that were not supposed to be here.