In a big upset in the FIFA World Cup, Paraguay defeated Germany in the penalty shootout. Coach Gustavo Alfaro said that ’26 warriors have returned as legends’. This is Germany’s first penalty shootout defeat in the World Cup.
Paraguay in last-16 after defeating Germany, coach calls team ‘legend’
Massachusetts [अमेरिका]June 30 (ANI): After their penalty win over Germany in their round of 32 tie, Paraguay head coach Gustavo Alfaro praised his team, saying “26 warriors” had gone there and returned as “legends”.
Germany’s decline continued after the 2014 FIFA World Cup, as they were eliminated in the Round of 32 this time after being eliminated in the group stage in the previous two editions. They suffered their first defeat in a penalty shootout at the FIFA World Cup, despite having won all four previous shootouts in the tournament. According to Optajo, this was only their second defeat on penalties in a major international tournament, the first defeat coming against Czechoslovakia (5–3) in the 1976 UEFA European Championship final.
’26 warriors returned as legends’
Now, Paraguay have a chance to match their best-ever performance, which they achieved at the 2010 World Cup by reaching the quarter-finals. Speaking after the match, quoted by Reuters, he said, “We never believe we lost. Twenty-six fighters went out there, and they came back legends.”
The Argentina coach faced some criticism after Paraguay began their campaign with a shock 1–4 defeat against co-hosts the United States and scored only one more goal in the other two matches. The team had made it to the Round of 32 with one win, one loss and one draw. These four points were enough to earn them a place among the third best eighth-placed teams.
‘Victory was achieved by learning a lesson from defeat’
Alfaro also said that if the team had not learned a lesson from the defeat against America, they would never have been prepared for this match. He said, “If we had not learned from that defeat, we would not have been prepared for this match. I told the players that we had lived a memorable evening.”
Such was the thrill of the match
Paraguay took the lead through Julio Enciso’s goal in the 42nd minute, before Kai Havertz equalized the score in the 54th minute. The South American team survived a controversially disallowed goal by VAR and took the match to penalties, with José Canale scoring the match-winning kick.
“As is always the case with us, we do nothing without suffering,” Alfaro said. He concluded, “Canale is one of life’s champions because he has had to go through so much. A night like this is one of those gifts that life can give you. It is divine justice.”
Paraguay will play either France or Sweden in their round of 16 match on July 4. (ANI)
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