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

<p>Germany once scored 22 consecutive penalties in major tournament shootouts. They missed three as Paraguay won 4-3 from the spot</p><p>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. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/30/germany-paraguay-world-cup-2026-last-32-match-report">Paraguay beat them 4-3 in a shootout in Boston on Monday</a> after their last-32 tie ended 1-1 after extra time.</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/germany">Germany</a> had won six consecutive shootouts in all competitions before this, their only previous defeat occurring in 1976. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/20/antonin-panenka-penalty-50-years-on-czechoslovakia-west-germany-1976">Antonín Panenka’s legendary spot-kick</a> condemned West Germany to a 5-3 shootout defeat in the semi-final of the European Championship.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/30/germany-50-year-penalty-shootout-dominance-over-world-cup-2026">Continue reading...</a>