Paraguay made history by eliminating Germany in the World Cup round of 32. This achievement is even more remarkable because they knocked out a team that had… forgotten what it meant to lose in a penalty shootout.

The first and only time Germany had lost in a penalty shootout at a major tournament was half a century ago. In 1976, in the European Championship final held in… Yugoslavia, they lost to Czechoslovakia as West Germany. And now neither Yugoslavia, nor Czechoslovakia, nor West Germany exist anymore…

Since then, Germany has won all six penalty shootouts at the World Cup or Euro. Its unbeaten streak in the World Cup began in 1982, when, as West Germany, it defeated France 5–4 in the semifinals. It continued in 1986, when, again as West Germany, it eliminated Mexico 4-1 in the quarterfinals, and in 1990 when it knocked out England 4-3 in the semifinals, while in 2006, they eliminated Argentina 4-2 in the quarterfinals.

It should be noted that Germany became the first team in World Cup history NOT to reach the round of 16 in three consecutive tournaments after winning the title. After winning the title in 2014, the Germans were eliminated in the group stage in 2018 and 2022, while this year they were eliminated in the round of 32.

*photo source: AP