Jürgen Klopp takes Arsenal swipe after Germany's World Cup exit to Paraguay
Table of Contents
 |
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Germany suffered their first-ever World Cup shootout defeat.
- Jonathan Tah's extra-time winner was ruled out after a VAR review.
- Jürgen Klopp made a pointed Arsenal joke over set-piece goals.
The four-time world champions were eliminated after a 1-1 draw that stretched into extra time before Paraguay secured a 4-3 victory on penalties.
It marked Germany's first-ever defeat in a World Cup penalty shootout and extended their recent struggles on football's biggest stage.
VAR controversy overshadows Germany's exit
The defining moment arrived deep into extra time when defender Jonathan Tah powered home what appeared to be the winning header.German celebrations were cut short after the referee was instructed to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.
Replays suggested Waldemar Anton had made contact with Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill moments before Tah found the net.
Although Gill recovered quickly after the collision, the referee ruled that Anton had committed a foul, disallowing the goal and leaving Germany furious.
The decision sparked immediate debate among pundits and supporters, with many questioning whether there had been enough contact to justify overturning the goal.
Jonathan Tah's disallowed goal pic.twitter.com/K9Sqxqvi69
— SK (@ska_huncho) June 29, 2026
Paraguay punish Germany in shootout
Paraguay had stunned Germany by taking the lead shortly before half-time when Julio Enciso rose to head home after an impressive attacking move.Germany responded after the interval through Kai Havertz, whose clever glancing header from Florian Wirtz's cross restored parity and forced extra time.
Neither side could find another legitimate winner, sending the contest to penalties.
Germany's shootout unravelled quickly. Havertz missed the opening spot-kick before Nick Woltemade also failed to convert.
Although Germany briefly fought back, Tah's penalty sailed over the crossbar, allowing José Canale to seal a memorable victory for Paraguay.
Klopp's Arsenal joke draws attention
Watching the match as a television pundit for Magenta TV, Klopp questioned the disallowed goal and used the incident to make a tongue-in-cheek reference to Arsenal's effectiveness from set-pieces.The former Liverpool manager suggested that if Tah's goal was considered illegal, then Arsenal's numerous goals from similar situations would also come under scrutiny.
If the goal is illegal, then Arsenal won't be English champions. They've scored 60% of their goals that way.His comments quickly attracted attention, reigniting the long-running debate surrounding physical challenges on goalkeepers during corners and free-kicks.
The 10 best 2026 FIFA World Cup home kits ranked
From Mexico to France, these are the 10 best home kits of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ranked ahead of the biggest tournament in football history.
Read This Next →Nagelsmann frustrated as pressure mounts
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann cut a frustrated figure throughout the closing stages and was booked after protesting the decision to disallow Tah's goal.The elimination is likely to intensify scrutiny over his future after another disappointing World Cup campaign.
Germany entered the tournament with high expectations but once again failed to progress beyond the knockout stages, extending a worrying trend for one of international football's traditional powerhouses.
Havertz accepts responsibility
After the defeat, Havertz accepted responsibility for Germany's early miss in the shootout and admitted the squad had fallen short of expectations.This is now my second World Cup and we've missed moving onto the next round twice now in a row. I want to apologise for that.Havertz also praised Paraguay's disciplined defensive display, admitting Germany struggled to create clear opportunities against an organised opponent who defended deep for long periods.
We are all very disappointed. It is not a very good feeling to disappoint again. The team tried a lot.
We had a very strong opponent. It was difficult to create chances and keep the pace.
The Paraguayan team defended very deep and it was difficult to run for a long time. I don't think we deserved to win this time.
A historic night for Paraguay
For Paraguay, the result ranks among the greatest achievements in the nation's football history.A disciplined defensive performance, clinical penalty-taking and resilience under pressure saw the South Americans eliminate one of the competition's most decorated teams, whilst Germany were left to reflect on another painful World Cup exit.
Post a Comment