A last gasp winner.
A missed penalty.
Both gut-wrenching ways to go out of the World Cup.
For Japan and Germany on Monday evening, both nations left the 2026 edition heartbroken.
The Blue Samuri looked destined to push Brazil to extra time with the game level at 1-1 before Gabrielle Martinelli scored in the 96th minute to progress his team to the round of 16.
In Boston, Germany were favorites against South American side Paraguay, but after 120 minutes of football the two nations were level at 1-1.
A nail-biting penalty shootout was needed to determine who would progress and who would be sent packing.
The underdogs squandered two chances to end Germany’s world cup campaign, but a miss from Antonio Sanabria and a save by Manuel Neuer kept Die Nationalelf alive.
Jonathan Tah put one over the bar and then José Canale finally ended the shootout as Paraguay claimed the first true ‘cupset’ of the tournament.
While Brazil and Paraguay march on, what now for Germany and Japan, what now?
Here are three ways they can process their losses and turn these setbacks into opportunities:
Celebrate the wins
Being eliminated is undoubtedly disappointing, but it shouldn’t overshadow everything the team accomplished to get there.
Simply qualifying for a World Cup is a remarkable achievement that many nations never experience.
Taking time to acknowledge that success helps athletes maintain perspective and recognize the dedication, sacrifice, and hard work that made the journey possible.
Reframe
Rather than defining the journey by its final result, view it as an opportunity for growth.
Reflect on the moments where the team performed well, overcame challenges, and showed progress.
Identifying the lessons learned and experiences gained helps shift the focus from disappointment to development and provides a foundation for future success.
Reflecting on Past Performances
Watching back positive moments, strong team performances, or individual highlights can help reinforce confidence and motivation.
Instead of allowing the final match to define the tournament, athletes can remind themselves of the qualities, strengths, and resilience they demonstrated throughout the competition.
