New York, June 30 -- Before the drama of Monday night in Boston, Germany could boasta proud World Cup record of never having lost a penalty shootout, making its exit to Paraguay especially significant.
The Germans had won all four World Cup penalty shootouts in which they had been involved, showing such clinical efficiency that, until Monday, the only German to miss a penalty in a World Cup shootout was Uli Stielike in the 1982 semifinal against France.
All of that changed on a hot, humid evening in Boston when Germany discovered the pain ofa World Cup exit in the cruelest way possible.
Kai Havertz, Nick Woltemade and Jonathan Tah all missed their penalties on Monday night as Germany crashed out of the competition to a Paraguay team it h...