Four times champions Germany are out of the 2026 Football World Cup! Beaten in a penalty shoot-out for the first time ever in a World Cup by minnows Paraguay, one of the fancied teams is on its way home.
[YouTube]
The Netherlands were also among the favourites and they too were beaten on penalties in the early hours of Tuesday morning by lowly Morocco.
Earlier on Monday night five time winners Brazil scraped through against Japan by scoring the winner in the 96th minute of extra time.
What is going on?
Of the teams I fancied as possible winners of the tournament only England, Spain, Belgium and Brazil are left. Are England, Spain and Belgium going to have problems in their Round of 16 matches? Well, we shall see over the next two days as the dieciseisavos are completed.
Monday 29 June
I sat through the match between Brazil and Japan in my favourite sports bar, Bar Alegria in Ronda, before going home for the late match between Germany and Paraguay. This was pretty dour stuff as I dozed through parts of the match, only to revive for the penalty shoot-out. Well, the German penalty takers proved their vulnerability against the giant Paraguay goalkeeper Gill.
[Trip Advisor]
I had no stamina left, so didn't stay up for the Netherlands v Morocco match. When I woke this morning I discovered that the Dutch had also crashed out on penalties.
Links:
El Mundial - Round of 16
South Africa v Canada
© Sporty Sam MMXXVI
Pictures:
Trip Advisor, YouTube
Thanks:
DAZN, Paul Whitelock, ZDF
Tags:
Belgium, Brazil, DAZN, England, Germany, Japan, Morocco, Netherlands, Paraguay, Paul Whitelock, penalty shoot-out, Spain, Sporty Sam, Trip Advisor, World Cup, YouTube, ZDF