Germany vs Paraguay LIVE: Controversial VAR call rules out Tah goal in extra-time of tense World Cup last-32 tie

Germany’s World Cup knockout-stage return ended in a nervy stalemate against Paraguay, with a controversial VAR decision in extra-time preventing a dramatic late winner and forcing the tie to penalties. Julian Nagelsmann’s side, playing their first round-of-32 match in 12 years, had already weathered a storm in the group stage after Ecuador’s 1-0 upset in New York left them rattled despite topping Group E on goal difference. The tension carried into the last-32 clash in Boston, where Paraguay twice threatened to upset the hosts before a tense stalemate sent the game to spot-kicks.

A late VAR intervention sparks outrage

The decisive moment arrived in the 119th minute, when Jonathan Tah’s looping header appeared to put Germany ahead. The ball crossed the line after a Wirtz cross and Havertz touch, but the goal was disallowed for an infringement involving Anton and the goalkeeper. The decision was met with immediate jeers from the crowd and sparked a VAR review, yet the call stood. The controversy capped a match that had already swung between two evenly matched sides, with Paraguay’s Julio Enciso opening the scoring in the 10th minute—his header beating Marc-André ter Stegen after a deep cross from Santiago Arzamendia—before Florian Wirtz’s curling cross and Kai Havertz’s glancing touch restored parity in the 52nd minute.

The deadlock held through extra-time, prolonging the agony for both sets of supporters. Paraguay nearly restored their lead late in the first half when Enciso forced a fine save from ter Stegen after a quick counter, while Germany’s Noah Kati Woltemade went down in the box under a challenge from Gustavo Gómez—though no penalty was awarded. By the final whistle, the tension had only intensified, ensuring the tie would be settled by the lottery of penalties.

Nagelsmann’s reshuffle fails to spark

Nagelsmann’s substitutions early in the second half—Antonio Rüdiger and Wirtz off, Amiri and Thiaw on—signalled an attempt to inject fresh energy into a Germany side struggling to impose their rhythm. Yet the changes did little to shift the balance, as Paraguay absorbed pressure and threatened on the counter. The hosts’ best chance fell to Havertz, whose 78th-minute header was palmed away by goalkeeper Rodrigo Morín Gill, while Paraguay’s Matías Caballero made a crucial interception to deny Niclas Füllkrug a clear run.

The parity extended into extra-time, where both teams pushed for a winner but found only frustration. The referee’s yellow cards to Nagelsmann and Paraguay’s Guillermo Alfaro underlined the fractious nature of the contest, with tempers fraying as the stakes rose. When the final whistle blew, the deadlock ensured the drama would continue in the shootout.

Tactical stalemate masks deeper issues

Germany entered the tournament as one of the favourites, yet their group-stage stumble against Ecuador exposed vulnerabilities in build-up play and defensive transitions. Paraguay, meanwhile, arrived in Boston with a compact 4-4-2 mid-block and direct wingers Arzamendia and Alonso, frustrating Germany’s attempts to play through pressure. Nagelsmann’s side dominated possession—62% to 38%—but lacked the cutting edge in the final third, with their attacks repeatedly blunted by Paraguay’s disciplined defensive shape.

The substitutions failed to unlock the deadlock, and the late VAR call only underscored the fine margins separating success and failure at this stage. With penalties looming, Germany’s ability to handle high-pressure moments will be tested once more—a far cry from the clinical finishes expected of a tournament favourite. Their next test will be the shootout, where ter Stegen’s composure and the composure of the designated takers will be decisive.

As the dust settles on a bruising encounter, one question lingers: can Germany rediscover the ruthlessness required to progress, or will their World Cup campaign end in the same fashion as their last knockout-stage appearance, a penalty shootout defeat to Italy in 2016?