Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Four-time champions Germany have been eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after suffering a dramatic penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay, while five-time winners Brazil had to wait till the sixth minute of the second half injury time to defeat Japan and book their place in the last 16.
Germany and Paraguay played out a tense 1-1 draw after extra time before the South American side prevailed 4-3 on penalties in a thrilling shootout.
Paraguay took a surprise lead in the 42nd minute when Julio Enciso headed home to stun the Germans. But Germany produced a much improved performance in the second half and equalized when a glancing header from Havertz from a cross from Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz found the back of the Paraguayan net in the 54th minute.
The match eventually went into extra time, where neither side could find a winner.
In the shootout, Germany suffered a major setback as Havertz and Newcastle United’s Nick Woltemade both saw their penalties saved by Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill.
Paraguay had chances to finish the tie earlier, but Antonio Sanabria missed his attempt while Fabian Balbuena’s penalty was saved by 40-year-old Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
In sudden death, Germany defender Jonathan Tah sent his spot-kick over the bar, allowing Jose Canale to score the decisive penalty and send Paraguay through to the next round.
The South American side will meet the winner of the match between France and Sweden in the last 16.
Meanwhile, Brazil came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 in a dramatic last-32 encounter in Houston.
Japan stunned the five-time champions just before the half-hour mark when Kaishu Sano capitalized on a poor pass and defensive error from Casemiro to put the Asian side ahead.
Brazil struggled in the first half but improved significantly after the interval. Casemiro made amends for his earlier mistake by scoring the equalizer with a powerful header off a pass from Gabriel Magalhaes in the 56th minute.
Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki made some excellent saves to keep his team in the tie until the second half regulation time. However, substitute Gabriel Martinelli sealed Brazil’s victory deep into stoppage time, curling the ball into the net in the 96th minute after being set up by Bruno Guimaraes.
Brazil will face the winner of the match between Ivory Coast and Norway in the last 16.
