While Alisson Becker and Brazil were able to celebrate early on Monday after a strong second half helped them to get past a determined ****** an 2-1 and progress to the Round of 16, that would prove to be the high point of the day for Liverpool's players at the 2026 World Cup.
The day's first Round of 32 tie was followed by Germany taking on Paraguay, with the UEFA giants one of the pre-tournament favourites and Paraguay the worst of South America's offerings at this World Cup and a side lucky to be in the knockouts at all. In group play they had been hammered by the United States, struggled to create anything in a nil-nil with Australia, and managed to eke past a Turkiye in turmoil with a 1-0 win.
That got them third in the group and a slot against Germany in Boston, and as expected Paraguay played a tight and defensive game and didn't create much of anything. Neither, though, did Germany, struggling more with Paraguay's low block than even Liverpool last season.
It was Paraguay who went up first when Julio Enciso scored late in the first half, going up for a free header six yards from goal when Germany fell asleep in open play shortly following a corner. Kai Havertz levelled early in the second half but even after that it rarely felt like Germany deserved to get the winner as the game dragged towards extra time and then penalties where they lost.
It was penalties in the day's final game, too, but the route to getting there was far more competitive and provided some of the best football of the tournament. Where Germany vs. Paraguay had been an underdog in a low block and a favourite failing to break them down and almost seeming to give up, Netherlands vs. Morocco was a clash of heavyweights.
The day's first Round of 32 tie was followed by Germany taking on Paraguay, with the UEFA giants one of the pre-tournament favourites and Paraguay the worst of South America's offerings at this World Cup and a side lucky to be in the knockouts at all. In group play they had been hammered by the United States, struggled to create anything in a nil-nil with Australia, and managed to eke past a Turkiye in turmoil with a 1-0 win.
That got them third in the group and a slot against Germany in Boston, and as expected Paraguay played a tight and defensive game and didn't create much of anything. Neither, though, did Germany, struggling more with Paraguay's low block than even Liverpool last season.
It was Paraguay who went up first when Julio Enciso scored late in the first half, going up for a free header six yards from goal when Germany fell asleep in open play shortly following a corner. Kai Havertz levelled early in the second half but even after that it rarely felt like Germany deserved to get the winner as the game dragged towards extra time and then penalties where they lost.
It was penalties in the day's final game, too, but the route to getting there was far more competitive and provided some of the best football of the tournament. Where Germany vs. Paraguay had been an underdog in a low block and a favourite failing to break them down and almost seeming to give up, Netherlands vs. Morocco was a clash of heavyweights.
4 months ago
