Alfaro's Paraguay stun Germany on penalties after 'warrior' display

Paraguay secured a historic victory over Germany in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, winning on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Coach Gustavo Alfaro, in a post-match press conference, hailed his team's resilience and pride in their origins.

Alfaro emphasized the team's identity, stating that while Germany's players are products of top European academies, Paraguay's strength comes from their 'tierra colorada' (red earth). 'We come from the red earth, where kids play barefoot,' he said Source: ABC. He added that the players gave everything: '26 warriors went onto the pitch and 26 legends came out' Source: ABC.

• The coach reflected on Paraguay's difficult start, having lost 4-1 to the USA in their opening match. 'If we hadn't learned from that defeat, maybe we wouldn't have won today,' he noted Source: La Voz.
• Alfaro acknowledged the gap in resources but took pride in his team's spirit. 'We don't have the tools to impose conditions. Today we danced to the music they put on: sometimes it's a cumbia, sometimes a tango, sometimes a polka' Source: La Voz.

The victory sends Paraguay to the quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of the match between Brazil and Switzerland.