Julio Enciso has given Paraguay a stunning half-time lead against Germany in the round of 32 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, heading home against the run of play in the 42nd minute to silence a crowd that had largely expected the five-time world champions to cruise through.
Germany dominated possession from the first whistle, completing 190 passes to Paraguay’s 25 in the opening 28 minutes and pressing relentlessly in search of a breakthrough. Yet for all their control, they created precious little, with Florian Wirtz blazing over from the edge of the area early on their best opportunity of a turgid opening period.
Paraguay, well-organised and resolute, sat deep and looked to threaten on the counter through Miguel Almiron. It was from exactly that approach that the decisive moment arrived. Almiron played a clever reverse pass down the right when a cross seemed the obvious option, the ball was whipped into the box and Enciso, arriving unmarked at the penalty spot, headed firmly into the bottom corner. The German defence, criticised throughout the tournament for their vulnerability at set pieces and crosses, offered him a free run with no pressure in sight.
The goal carried a particular emotional charge for Enciso, who had been a fitness concern before the tournament, leaving the pitch in tears during a friendly against Nicaragua just seven days before Paraguay’s opener. That Alfaro kept faith with him and played him through the pain makes the moment all the more remarkable.
At 38 years and 341 days, Nagelsmann is the youngest manager to take charge of a World Cup knockout match since France’s Henri Michel in the 1986 third-place play-off. He needs the second half of his life to rescue Germany’s World Cup.
