Finally, Uli Stielike has company. For 44 years, an outstanding player for Borussia Monchengladbach, Real Madrid and his country stood alone as the only German man to miss a penalty in a World Cup shootout. Then three came in a flurry: Kai Havertz with a tame attempt, Nick Woltemade with a still tamer one and Jonathan Tah with his wild, skied effort the most crucial of the three before Jose Canale confirmed their fate.
The old stereotypes of Germany football, the Turniermannschaft with their menacing inexorableness, are being destroyed. An exit to Paraguay did not feel very German; but now a staple of the business end of tournaments have failed to make the last 16 of a third successive World Cup. Germany’s last victory in a knockout tie remains the 2014 final.
