Panenka to Paraguay: Germany’s 50-year penalty shootout streak is over

Germany once scored 22 consecutive penalties in major tournament shootouts. They missed three as Paraguay won 4-3 from the spot

Germany were knocked out of the 2026 World Cup on penalties, an outcome that feels unbelievable to anyone who has watched international football over the past 50 years. Paraguay beat them 4-3 in a shootout in Boston on Monday after their last-32 clash ended 1-1 following extra time.

Germany had won six consecutive shootouts in all competitions before this, their only previous defeat occurring in 1976. Antonín Panenka’s legendary spot-kick condemned West Germany to a 5-3 shootout defeat in the semi-final of the European Championship.

Continue reading...