TOgermany had converted the penalty shootouts in a genre of its own. From Sevilla 82 to Dortmund 2006every time a World Cup cornered them eleven meters from the goal, the German team responded with almost inhuman coldness: four rounds, four victories and a single error in 18 launches. Until Paraguay appeared.
Penalty shootouts were, for Germany, almost a natural extension of their competitive identity. A hostile territory for almost everyone, but surprisingly comfortable for the ‘Mannschaft’. Every time a World Cup had pushed her to the abyss of eleven meters, the outcome had been the same: German victory.
The perfect story (so far) starts in Seville, in Spain 82. The semi-final against France lived the first penalty shootout in World Cup history. Uli Stielike failed the fact that, until todayhad been only mistake German. But the rest entered to defeat the Gauls. That’s where the myth was born.
In Mexico 86 The script was repeated, but with a different cast. Quarter finals before the host team. There, where others feel the pressure of the context, Germany reduces everything to a minor surgery operation: four throws, four hits, 4‑1 in the round and I went to the semi-finals.
Orlando Gill dresses as a hero against Germany
Four years later, in Italy 90it was up to England. The semi-final is resolved by the Germans with another work of precision: four converted penalties4‑3 in the round and the same ending again.
The last World Cup chapter before Paraguay was in 2006with host Germany and Argentina as a perfect antagonist. Quarterfinals in Dortmund. Jens Lehmanngloves on and paper folded in the stocking, consulting the sheet with the possible Argentine pitchers, saved two penalties. His teammates do not fail, scoring the four that they launched.
Only Panenka had stopped Germany
The irony is that the origin of everything is in a European defeat. Before becoming the ogre of the shoot-outs, Germany was the victim of public humiliation from the penalty spot. Belgrade, 1976, Euro Cup final between Czechoslovakia and the then Federal Germany. First penalty shootout (also) in the history of the tournament. The pitchers follow one another, and Antonín arrives Panenka. Instead of a dry shot, he opts for a soft, mocking Vaseline, which rises and falls on Sepp Maier, overcome by daring rather than power. Czechoslovakia is crowned champion, Germany loses a title and the world learns a new word: ‘Panenka’.
Since then, every round was a victory.to. In World Cups but also in Euro Cups. In the 1996 Euro, The setting was ideal: Wembley. Semifinal against England againlike in the 90 World Cup). History repeats itself. Two decades later, in France 2016, the German team returns to penalty roulette against Italyin a quarterfinal that ends up becoming a marathon of nerves. 18 throws, seven missesa sequence as clumsy as it is fascinating, described as the “worst round in the history of the Euro Cup”. There the Germans did fail several attempts, but the result was satisfactory.
Paraguay puts an end to the myth
With that file behind us, Paraguay seemed little more than a secondary guest in the story. But Orlando Gill emerged as a hero. He stopped two, Kai Havertz and then Nick Woltemade. Tah confirms the Teutonic disaster by sending him away. Three errors out of six attempts. Until then he was wearing an 18.
The four definitions in which Germany emerged victorious were the following:
- 1982 World Cup: Semifinal against France (won 5-4).
- World Cup 1986: Quarterfinals against Mexico (won 4-1).
- 1990 World Cup: Semifinal against England (won 4-3).
- World Cup 2006: Quarterfinals against Argentina (won 4-2)