Germany’s 1-1 (3-4) loss on penalties to Paraguay shook Germany to its core. After a sluggish performance over 120 minutes against the massive underdogs, Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade missed their penalties to put Paraguay on the brink of progression. Manuel Neuer kept the last penalty and managed to just about keep Germany in the contest past the first five penalties, but it was clear the Germans had no idea who should take the next one. There was a round of discussion with multiple people refusing to take the pressure kick before center back Jonathan Tah shouldered responsibility and walked up to the penalty spot.
Unfortunately, the 30-year-old blazed the ball over the bar.
This tilted the shootout back in Paraguay’s favor and the next Paraguayan penalty taker, José Canales, did not let the opportunity go by, burying the ball in the top of the net to see Group D’s third placed team complete the miraculous upset.
After the match, Tah took full responsibility for the miss but also refused to stay down about it.
“To be honest, I felt good,” the Bayern Munich player told Sport1 (as captured by iMiaSanMia). “I wasn’t extremely nervous, which is what I actually thought I would be, but I didn’t hit it well. I would take one again next time. I think it’s important to take responsibility in difficult moments. That was something I specifically resolved to do for this tournament: to take responsibility – and that’s why I did it in that moment.”