Germany's biggest World Cup shocks: Where early exit to Paraguay ranks among most disappointing results

Germany's biggest World Cup shocks: Where early exit to Paraguay ranks among most disappointing results originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Germany is undoubtedly one of the most decorated sides in World Cup history. Its history in the competition is anything but faultless, however.

The four-time World Cup winners have authored up a fair few stinkers across their 21 appearances in football's most famous competition. Some have come in the group stage, preventing Die Mannschaft from advancing to the knockout stage. Others have seen German sides seemingly capable of advancing to the latter stages of the tourney knocked out prematurely.

With that, here's a look at Germany's biggest World Cup shocks — a list that got that much larger with the Germans' stunning defeat to Paraguay in the Round of 32.

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Die Mannschaft entered the Round of 32 as sizable favorites against Paraguay, the plucky central South American side that had failed to qualify for a World Cup in 16 years prior to 2026.

However, across 120 minutes, the Germans were unable to outwit their lesser-known adversaries. The Paraguayans took the lead with a Julio Enciso header in the first half. Kai Havertz leveled the scoring with a timely second-half strike. But Germany was unable to breach Orlando Gill's cage again for the remainder of regulation.

Penalty kicks are always a crapshoot. In the Round of 32, the luck went against Germany's talent-laden roster. Paraguay advanced via spot kicks, producing melodies that will live long in Paraguayan lore. The Germans likely won't look back at the result nearly as fondly.

The Germans were widely considered favorites to compete for the title of world's best side during the 2018 World Cup. Who could blame one for having such confidence in their abilities? They were the World Cup holders, after all, hoisting the hardware a fifth time in 2014.

Group stage losses to Mexico and South Korea were not on the agenda. But that's just the fate that befell Joachim Low's side, who failed to produce goals in either contest. The final defeat proved markedly more consequential than the first — the Germans failed to make the knockout stage for the first time since 1930.

Germany was undone by a 2-1 loss to Japan in the opening match of the 2022 World Cup. Four years after failing to emerge out of the group, the Germans had hoped for a better return to the famous competition.

Die Mannschaft started its showing in fine form, fining a goal courtesy of a precise Ilkay Gundogan penalty. As the match wore on, though, the Blue Samurai grew in confidence. Ritsu Doan found the target with an inch-perfect strike beyond Neuer in the 75th minute. Eight minutes later, Japan was dancing once more courtesy of Takuma Asano's goal.

The result would prove to be especially consequential for the Germans. The five-time World Cup winners missed out on the knockout stage due to goal difference, a result that contributed to Hansi Flick's eventual dismissal.

West Germany cruised to the 1954 World Cup, winning five of its six matchups en route to hoisting football's most famous trophy for the first time. Its lone defeat came in devastating circumstances, though; the Germans were crushed 8-3 by Hungary in the group stage, cut down by Ferenc Puskas, Sandor Kocsis and Co.

The defeat represents one of the largest in World Cup history. Germany got its get-back a few weeks later, however, besting Hungary 3-2 in the final to hoist the famous prize.

The World Cup Trophy beckoned for Germany in 1998, with only Croatia — a side making its debut as an independent nation — standing in the way between Die Mannschaft and a semifinal berth.

To be clear, Croatia was an excellent side powered by standouts like Golden Boot winner Davor Suker and Mario Stanic. Still, Die Mannschaft appeared the likeliest of the two to advance courtesy of its glint reputation.

Suker and Co. had other ideas, outgunning Germany 3-0 en route to a third-place finish in its maiden World Cup.