Kanali from shadow to glory…a penalty kick that topples Germany and ignites the Paraguay miracle

For Paraguayan defender Jose Canale – who scored the decisive penalty kick that knocked out four-time world champion Germany from the World Cup – the path to glory on the world stage was not easy, but rather long and full of challenges. Canali, who will turn thirty in July, spent a large part of his club career moving on loan between Paraguay, Argentina and Mexico, in an attempt to regain his level and fitness, after he failed to find his footing with his first club, Libertad in Asuncion.

But his more consistent form this year with Lanus in Buenos Aires – coupled with his decisive headed goal in the Recopa Sudamericana final against Flamengo at the Maracanã in February – caught the eye of Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro, who included him in the World Cup squad as a reserve player.

This player, with curly hair and a strong build, got his chance against Germany on Monday, after Omar Alderete, who is usually Alvaro’s first choice, was injured.

In his first major participation in an official match with his country’s national team, Kanali played a pivotal role in one of the most prominent World Cup surprises. Along with Paraguay captain Gustavo Gomez in the defense line, he succeeded in reducing the danger of German striker Deniz Undav.

Although he left a narrow space for Kai Havertz, which the latter took advantage of to score the equalizer with a header, he reduced the Arsenal star’s chances to a minimum over the course of 120 minutes of regular and extra time.

When the match went to penalty kicks, Kanali was not among the top five players assigned to take shots. But as kicks entered the do-or-die phase, with players from each team missing, he was ready to take charge. After German defender Jonathan Tah shot his ball over the crossbar, Kanali advanced confidently, caught his breath, and relaxed his shoulders, before deceiving Manuel Neuer with a powerful left shot that landed in the net, giving Paraguay the victory and condemning Germany to its first loss via penalty kicks in the history of its participation in the World Cup.

At the moment of the goal, Canale seemed hesitant to choose the direction of the celebration, before he was surrounded by the arms of his teammates, celebrating the most important victory for Paraguay in its history in the World Cup. Coach Alvaro said, “Canali is a true hero in life. He faced many difficulties. Evenings like this are one of the rare gifts that life gives… It is like divine justice.”

Canale may still not believe what happened, at a time when Paraguay is preparing to face the winner of the round of 16 match between France and Sweden on July 4, with the possibility of him starting again if Alderete does not recover in time. When he was asked last November – after Lanus won the Recopa Sudamericana Cup – about the possibility of joining the national team’s roster for the World Cup, Canale seemed humble in his response.

He said, “As a football player, you face difficulties in your beginnings. I am doing my best day after day with Lanus, and then we will see what happens.”