Paraguay stuns Germany on penalties to reach World Cup Round of 16

Paraguay has ended Germany's World Cup dreams, securing a dramatic 1-1 draw after extra time and winning the penalty shootout 4-3 to advance to the Round of 16.

The match, the first to go to extra time and penalties in this tournament, saw Paraguay take the lead in the 42nd minute with a goal from Julio Enciso. Germany fought back, with Kai Havertz leveling the score in the 54th minute, forcing the game into a tense penalty decider.

This victory is a significant achievement for Paraguay, marking their first appearance in the knockout stage in 16 years. They entered the 32-team round as the third-place finisher in Group D (1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss) and overcame a strong German side that topped Group E with two wins and one loss.

Paraguay will now face the winner of the France-Sweden match on July 5th for a spot in the quarterfinals. Germany, who were aiming for their fifth World Cup title, saw their campaign conclude in the first knockout match, a repeat of their early exit in the 2014 Brazil tournament.