What Klopp, Nagelsmann, and German players said after World Cup defeat

It was a heartbreaking moment for the players and coaching staff as the German national team lost on penalties to Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

On June 29, 2026, four-time champions Germany were eliminated after a 1-1 draw in regulation time, losing 4-3 in the shootout. Julio Enciso’s opener was canceled out by Kai Havertz, but Paraguay prevailed in the end.

Before extra time, Jonathan Tah rose unmarked at the back post and powered a header past Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill. However, the effort was reviewed and disallowed.

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After the match, some players admitted that the team’s performances had been below par, saying the outcome was deserved and that authorities must address the issues.

Joshua Kimmich told MagentaTV, "We deserved to be eliminated. It feels terrible. We struggled badly in all three matches against teams that aren’t world-class."

Arsenal forward Kai Havertz also expressed frustration over Germany’s recent failures, "The last few tournaments were a disaster. We players need to take a long, hard look at ourselves. We’re playing for a huge country with a rich football history."

Meanwhile, head coach Julian Nagelsmann insisted he would not resign and remains committed to the team unless dismissed by the German FA, "I am not resigning. If the DFB want me to stay until 2028, I will. If they don’t, then I’ll leave this project."

German coach Jürgen Klopp blamed the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the defeat, claiming Tah’s goal should have stood, "If the goal is illegal, then Arsenal won’t be English champions. They’ve scored 60% of their goals that way. We [Germany] win the game when the ball goes in. So, of course, this is brutal."

Germany’s exit adds to their recent struggles, as their campaigns have been poor since winning the title in 2014. They suffered two group-stage eliminations before being knocked out in the Round of 32 in the expanded 2026 World Cup.

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