Germany and the Netherlands crash out on penalties as Paraguay and Morocco advance
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Germany were knocked out of the World Cup in a stunning round-of-32 exit, losing 4-3 on penalties to Paraguay after a 1-1 draw in Foxborough. Julio Enciso headed Paraguay ahead before Kai Havertz levelled, and the four-time champions were left aggrieved when a Jonathan Tah header was disallowed in extra time for a soft foul, according to Sky Sports, before falling in the shootout.
Morocco produced another upset, eliminating the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in Monterrey. Cody Gakpo's second-half goal looked decisive until Issa Diop equalised deep in stoppage time; in the shootout, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved from Crysencio Summerville and Ismael Saibari converted the winner, per Al Jazeera, sending Morocco into the last 16.
Brazil avoided the same fate but only just, beating Japan 2-1 with Gabriel Martinelli's winner deep in stoppage time. Kaishu Sano had put Japan ahead before Casemiro equalised, and Martinelli's late effort spared Carlo Ancelotti's side, who advance to the round of 16, according to ESPN.
Transfer and squad notes
Julian Nagelsmann reacted to Germany's exit by criticising the disallowed extra-time goal while conceding his side lacked a cutting edge, per the German FA's channel; the defeat brings a premature end to a campaign expected to go much further and will prompt questions about the team's direction.
The shootout in Monterrey carried a transfer subplot, with Bayern Munich-bound Saibari striking the decisive penalty for Morocco and PSG-linked Summerville missing for the Netherlands — two players whose summers are already in focus, with Saibari's move to Bayern reported as agreed ahead of the German window opening.
What it means for the league
A day of upsets has blown the bracket open, with two European heavyweights gone and Paraguay and Morocco carrying the underdog story deeper into the knockouts. Brazil's narrow escape underlines how fine the margins have become, and the round of 16 is taking shape around the survivors: Morocco meet Canada, while Brazil await the winner of Ivory Coast against Norway. The expanded field's outsiders are increasingly shaping the tournament's closing stretch.