World Cup knockout stage results: Germany and Netherlands eliminated, England to face DR Congo
Germany and Netherlands were eliminated from the World Cup in penalty shootouts, with Paraguay defeating Germany and Netherlands winning their match. Norway beat Ivory Coast to reach the last 16. England is preparing for their knockout match against DR Congo.
Narrative Synthesis
Neutral news article compiled by integrating coverage details from all reporting stations.
The World Cup knockout stage has delivered its first major shocks, with two of Europe's traditional powerhouses, Germany and the Netherlands, eliminated in dramatic penalty shootouts. The results have sent a clear warning to England as they prepare for their own knockout match against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Germany, four-time world champions, were beaten by Paraguay in a round of 32 match in Boston. The game finished 1-1 after extra time, with Paraguay taking the lead through Julio and Sisco just before half-time. Arsenal's Kai Havertz equalised after the break. In the penalty shootout, Germany missed three of their spot kicks, including Havertz's first attempt and another from Nick Walter Marder. Paraguay won 4-3 on penalties. It was the first time Germany had ever lost a World Cup penalty shootout, compounding their misery after failing to win a knockout match since lifting the trophy in 2014.
The Netherlands also suffered an early exit, losing to Morocco on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The Dutch missed three penalties, allowing Morocco to triumph 3-2 in the shootout. It was the Netherlands' earliest-ever exit from the tournament. The result was particularly emotional for Dutch striker Cody Gakpo, who scored during the match and broke down in tears afterwards. Gakpo and his partner had recently announced the loss of their unborn child.
In other knockout action, Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 to reach the last 16 for the first time in their history. Erling Haaland scored the late winner, setting up a clash with Brazil in the next round. Brazil had earlier come from behind to beat Japan 2-1, with goals from Casemiro and Gabriel Martinelli. France also progressed, beating Sweden 3-0 with two goals from Kylian Mbappe.
England now face DR Congo in Atlanta on Tuesday evening. The match is a round of 32 tie, and England are heavy favourites, ranked fourth in the world against DR Congo's 41st. However, the shocks of the last 24 hours have served as a stark reminder of the dangers of the knockout stage. England manager Thomas Tuchel has warned against overconfidence, saying the margins are narrow and that his team must be ready for a tough battle.
England have injury concerns at right-back, with Reece James and Jerrel Kwanzaa both ruled out. Jed Spence is expected to start. The team trained at their Kansas City base before travelling to Atlanta. The stadium, which has a retractable roof and air conditioning, will provide relief from the sweltering 35-degree heat outside. DR Congo boast several players with Premier League experience, including Johan Wisser, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Axel Tuanzebe. They have already made history by reaching the knockout stage for the first time since 1974, when they competed as Zaire.
England fans have expressed confidence but also anxiety, given the team's laboured performances in the group stage against Ghana and Panama. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has said the team is prepared for penalties if needed. A win would send England to Mexico City for a last 16 match against Mexico. Defeat would mean a long journey home and a major tournament failure.
On screen
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Key Claims
Factual or political claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC One | ITV1 Evening News | ITV | ITV1 Lunchtime News | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England will face DR Congo in the round of 32 in Atlanta, with a closed roof and air conditioning, capacity around 67,000. | ||||||
| Germany lost to Paraguay on penalties, their first ever World Cup penalty shootout defeat. | ||||||
| Netherlands lost to Morocco on penalties, suffering their earliest ever World Cup exit; Morocco won 3-2 in the shootout after a 1-1 draw. | · | · | ||||
| Cody Gakpo scored for the Netherlands and broke down in tears after recently losing an unborn child. | · | · | · | · | ||
| DR Congo's squad includes Premier League players Wissa (or Johan Wisser), Siddiqui, and Wan-Bissaka. | · | · | · | · | ||
| Norway beat Ivory Coast with a late goal by Erling Haaland, their first ever World Cup knockout win. | · | · | · | · | ||
| Right back Reece James and Durell Kwanzaa are major injury doubts for the match. | · | · | · | · | ||
| Brazil beat Japan 2-1 to reach the round of 16. | · | · | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
Editorial focus, emphasis angles, and key quotes from each reporting news station.
Sky News focused on the shock eliminations of Germany and the Netherlands, highlighting the historical significance of Germany's first penalty shootout loss. It also provided a brief update on England's arrival in Atlanta and the weather. The tone was factual and concise, with a slight emphasis on the drama of the upsets.
- “Four-time winners, Germany suffering defeat to Paraguay, losing out on penalties for the first time ever.”
- “Another shot was nearly on the cards for Brazil when they fell behind to Japan. But eventually Casemiro and Gabriel Martinelli scored to secure a 2-1 win for the five times world champions.”
5 News provided a very brief summary of the World Cup shocks, focusing on Germany and Netherlands being knocked out on penalties. The coverage was minimal, with no additional analysis or detail, and quickly moved on to other news. The tone was straightforward and news bulletin style.
- “And it was a night of shocks at the World Cup. Four-time champions Germany have been knocked out by Paraguay on penalties after a 1-1-1 draw, and the Netherlands suffered their earliest-ever exit from the tournament, beaten on penalties by Morocco.”
ITV1's coverage across its lunchtime and evening bulletins emphasised the emotional human story of Cody Gakpo's tears after scoring, and the practical preparations for England's match. The lunchtime bulletin included a detailed behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Stadium, while the evening bulletin focused on fan costs and the team's penalty readiness. The tone was engaging and feature-like, with a mix of human interest and tactical analysis.
- “And an emotional moment as Dutch centre forward Cody Gackpo scored in the Netherlands clash with Morocco after the goal. The Dutch squad ran onto the pitch to embrace the 27-year-old who broke down in tears.”
- “We've spent £1,200 and we've just looked online and now they've gone down to $500. So it's a nightmare. It's once in a lifetime isn't it? So it was fine I guess.”
BBC One West provided the most comprehensive coverage, including detailed reports on Germany and Netherlands' exits, Norway's win over Ivory Coast, and extensive analysis of England's preparation. The coverage highlighted the raised stakes and the danger of complacency, with multiple segments from the sports editor in Atlanta. The tone was authoritative and analytical, with a focus on the tactical and emotional challenges facing England.
- “It is a reminder if England needed it, isn't it, of the raised stakes now. This is where this World Cup gets very serious indeed. It's win or bust.”
- “If they go out against Congo, there's not really any excuses is there, so I don't think it's going to go down well with fans.”
Bulletin Timeline
Chronological list of news reports tracked for this story.