FOXBOROUGH: Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro praised his players for producing an “extraordinary” performance after beating Germany on penalties to secure a place in the World Cup last 16 on Monday.

Julio Enciso gave Paraguay a first-half lead in Foxborough, but Kai Havertz equalised and it appeared four-time world champions Germany would eventually scrape through in extra time.

However, Jonathan Tah had a goal chalked off and Paraguay won 4-3 in a dramatic shootout as goalkeeper Orlando Gill made two crucial saves, after a 1-1 draw.

Gill described the victory as “an immense thrill”.

“Thank God I was able to save two penalties. This is a privilege; we eliminated a champion. This is dedicated to all Paraguayans.”

Alfaro said that he experienced the match with great intensity, like everyone.

“It was a match full of tension from start to finish because we knew we were facing one of the main title contenders,” he said. “A rival of enormous quality who, beforehand, were favourites.”

Alfaro said his team executed the game plan effectively, limiting Germany’s ability to impose their style.

“The players understood perfectly what the match required and put in a huge effort to prevent Germany from finding spaces and playing their game,” he said.

He acknowledged the physical toll of the contest, pointing to the demanding conditions on a hot day in Massachusetts.

“It’s true we lacked certain things, but the demands of the match were very high. The temperature was high and the constant effort to recover and close down spaces often left us with less energy to attack,” Alfaro added.

Germany had never before lost a World Cup shootout, but Paraguay held their nerve — even after Antonio Sanabria and Fabian Balbuena missed kicks that would have secured victory.

Even that, Alfaro felt, was part of Paraguay’s identity.

“It seems if we don’t suffer, it doesn’t count. The shootout was dramatic, going to the sixth penalty,” he said, before dedicating the win to supporters.

“This qualification is for all Paraguayans who believed in us.”

Enciso attributed Paraguay’s victory over Germany to the team’s fearless mentality.

“We respected them a lot because we knew their players. They have some very good players. But we’re not afraid of anyone,” he said.

Meanwhile, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said he wanted to stay in his job despite the defeat.

Nagelsmann has a contract up to the 2028 European Championships but Germany’s premature exit from the World Cup will put the 38-year-old under intense scrutiny.

“I’m not someone who runs away,” he told German broadcaster ZDF. “I want to continue, but in football you don’t always have it in your own hands.

“If the DFB (federation) wants me to, then I will prepare for the European Championship and the Nations League.”

But Nagelsmann himself must shoulder much of the responsibility after repeatedly declaring before the tournament that the Germans were out to win their fifth World Cup trophy.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2026