The knockout stages of the World Cup are in full swing, with penalty shootout drama and VAR controversy already featuring.
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Here are today’s World Cup quick hits.
1. Historic shootout win for Paraguay
We didn’t have to wait long for our first penalty shootout at the 2026 World Cup, and it most certainly delivered in spades.
Germany and Paraguay, playing only the third of the knockout matches at the tournament, couldn’t be split after 120 minutes and took their round of 32 game to the spot.
Paraguay’s effort to take the four-time champs so far could not be understated, but still the Germans were expected to progress. After all, Germany had never lost a World Cup penalty shootout. Ever.
Orlando Gill was Paraguay’s hero in goal in the shootout. (Getty Images: Michael Reaves)
But things looked shaky from the off, when Arsenal’s Kai Havertz stepped up and saw a poor opening penalty saved. Things got even worse when Paraguay’s keeper Orlando Gill denied Nick Woltemade’s attempt, handing the underdogs two chances to win the game.
Antonio Sanabria had the first chance for Paraguay and blew it, wide of the post. Then Fabian Balbuena had a chance and also blew it, saved brilliantly by Manuel Neuer.
All level again, it looked like Paraguay’s golden chance was gone. And then Jonathan Tah, the big German centre back, stepped up and did his best Nathan Cleary impression, putting his penalty a good five yards over the cross bar.
Germany lost a World Cup penalty shootout for the first time. (Getty Images: Tom Weller/picture alliance)
Paraguay could no longer be denied. José Canale put his penalty into the top corner and sparked scenes of delirium to rival anything Paraguayan football has experienced before.
2. VAR denies Germany, but should it have?
The Germans will rue the penalty shootout mistakes, but they will also direct some of their ire at the match officials.
Shortly before half-time in extra-time, about 103 minutes into the match, Tah headed home from a Nathaniel Brown corner and looked for all money to have settled the tie in Germany’s favour.
But with both sides lined up at the kick-off ready to get the game back underway, referee Jalal Jayed gestured to his earpiece and then scampered across to the pitch-side TV. There was a VAR check afoot.
Orlando Gill was judged to have been fouled by Waldemar Anton. (Getty Images: Tom Weller)
The video assistant refs were showing Jayed replays of Waldemar Anton standing near Paraguay’s keeper Gill as the ball came in. The pair briefly made contact, Gill fell over, then got back up and got a finger to Tah’s header before it went in.
The contact was minor, and certainly gave Gill no reason to hit the floor. On world feed commentary Brad Friedel, a decorated former goalkeeper himself, insisted there was no foul in the play.
But Jayed disagreed. Germany’s goal was chalked off, the game went to penalties and the rest is history.
3. Broken leg? What broken leg?
Not even a broken leg could dim Ismael Kone’s spirits as the Canada midfielder danced without crutches after the co-hosts’ historic 1-0 victory over South Africa.
A video shared by Canada right back Richie Laryea on his Instagram story showed Kone dancing with his teammates in the dressing room and quickly went viral.
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The 24-year-old, who was considered the heartbeat of Canada’s midfield, appeared in high spirits days after suffering a leg break during Canada’s 6-0 thrashing of Qatar on June 18.
Kone, who underwent surgery, has remained a constant presence around the squad despite his injury, attending matches and supporting his teammates from the sidelines.
4. Norway fans take their rowboats to the golf
Norwegian fans have been making waves throughout this World Cup with their Erling Haaland wigs and choreographed “row” routine.
But with a gap in between games, some Norway fans took the show on the road to take in some golf, heading to the PGA Tour event in Connecticut to cheer on home-town hero Viktor Hovland.
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It just so happened Hovland was in contention, and with the backing of some vocal fans took world number one Scottie Scheffler which, due to the weather, had to be finished on the Monday morning local time.
Naturally, Hovland won. And to say thank you for his unexpected support, he joined in with the crowd for a bit of a “row” himself.
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“It’s really cool to see the Norwegian jerseys out there with the World Cup and everything that is going on,” Hovland said.
“Obviously, it helps when you got people like this cheering you on. You definitely get adrenaline from it.”
5. San Jose shooting ‘unrelated’ to World Cup live site
A suspected drive-by shooting in San Jose, California, that killed one person and injured another near the Bay Area’s main site for World Cup watch parties was an isolated incident and not related to the tournament, police said.
A man was shot outside a ramen restaurant and pronounced dead about a block away from the San Pedro Square fan zone late on Sunday (local time), while a second adult male collapsed in the square where thousands of World Cup fans have gathered to watch matches.
The second victim was in hospital in critical condition but expected to survive.
A San Jose Police Department spokesperson said the victims were San Jose residents who were travelling together by foot and a suspect approached them in a car and fled after the shooting.
Police were investigating the case as homicide, and said the motive and circumstances were unclear.
“I want to make clear that, although this was an isolated incident and unrelated to any World Cup watch activities, we understand the importance of fans and visitors feeling safe when coming to downtown San Jose,” spokesperson Stacie Shih told reporters.
“The San Jose Police Department will be ensuring high visibility in and around the area. So, again, this is to make sure that our fans and visitors have a safe experience when they visit downtown San Jose.”
ABC/Wires
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