After Germany’s defeat to Paraguay, a wave of heartbreak swept from Boston Stadium all the way to Germany.
In the Round of 32, Jose Canale scored in the penalty shootout, sealing a 4-3 victory for Paraguay, marking their first-ever win against Germany in the World Cup and knocking Germany out of the tournament.
As Canale netted the decisive goal, footage of devastated German fans began to spread quickly online.
At a viewing party in Berlin, many spectators felt sure goalkeeper Olive Baumann would make the save, but when the ball slipped by him, gasps echoed throughout the crowd.
Fans were left in disbelief, some with their hands over their heads, while others walked away, trying to process what had just occurred.
Though some fans clapped in a show of sportsmanship after a tough match, the atmosphere shifted dramatically from excitement to stunned silence in bars filled with supporters.
Germany had previously won the World Cup in 2014 by defeating Argentina 1-0. However, their performance in 2018 and 2022 saw them struggling to advance past the group stages.
Going into this year’s tournament, many viewed Germany as a potential frontrunner. They began with an impressive 7-1 win over Curacao and another victory against Ivory Coast, which ended 2-0.
But on June 25th, they faced a shocking come-from-behind loss to Ecuador, leaving fans reeling.
In the match against Paraguay, Germany fell behind early with a goal from Julio Enciso in the 42nd minute. They equalized in the 54th minute when Mai Havertz scored a header, but ultimately lost in the penalty shootout.
