Germany’s impeccable record from the penalty spot in World Cups had long been the stuff of legend.

Before Monday night’s clash, Die Mannschaft had triumphed in all four of their previous World Cup shootouts, converting 17 of their 18 penalties in those contests.

Such was their reputation for composure that former England striker Gary Lineker once famously remarked, “Football is a simple game where 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.”

However, that aura of invincibility came to a stunning end on Monday evening, as Julian Nagelsmann’s side crashed out of the World Cup in the round of 32 following a 4-3 defeat on penalties against Paraguay in Foxborough.

Playing at Boston Stadium, Germany found themselves trailing in the first half but drew level through Kai Havertz. The Chelsea forward then appeared to have turned the match around completely when Jonathan Tah struck what looked like a late extra-time winner.

However, the celebrations were cut short after a VAR review ruled out Tah’s goal. The Bayern Munich defender’s effort was disallowed due to a foul by Waldemar Anton on Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill in the build-up to the goal.

In the decisive shootout, Havertz and Nick Woltemade both failed to convert their penalties, before Tah’s miss in sudden death sealed Germany’s fate — marking a painful first in their World Cup history.

The defeat was Germany’s inaugural shootout loss at a World Cup and only their second in any major international tournament, the other being the 1976 European Championship final.

That match in 1976 is remembered for the birth of the now-iconic Panenka penalty, when Antonin Panenka’s delicate chip secured victory for what is now the Czech Republic over German goalkeeper Sepp Maier.