German media reacted with fury after the national team’s World Cup elimination, describing the defeat as a “colossal disgrace” and accusing Julian Nagelsmann of seriously misjudging both his squad and his own capabilities.
Nagelsmann’s side were knocked out by Paraguay, losing 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw — marking the first time Germany have ever been beaten in a World Cup shoot-out.
Germany were left frustrated after Jonathan Tah, who later sent the decisive penalty over the bar, had an extra-time goal controversially disallowed following a VAR check.
BILD delivered one of the harshest verdicts, calling the result a “colossal disgrace” and claiming the national team had “embarrassed itself to the bone.”
“In the first half, the DFB eleven presented itself completely without ideas,” the newspaper wrote, while handing Nagelsmann its lowest possible rating.
German media issued a scathing response after the national team’s shock World Cup exit against Paraguay
Julian Nagelsmann has faced much of the criticism for the last-32 defeat, which BILD described as a “colossal disgrace”
After the break, Germany showed signs of improvement as Nagelsmann’s side pushed forward with more crosses and greater urgency.
‘A dramatically weak performance by our national team, for which Nagelsmann is responsible.’
Kicker declared the elimination as an ‘indictment of German football and Nagelsmann’, stating that the national team coach has ‘not managed to bundle and promote the strengths of his team.’
‘The next embarrassment,’ the Suddeutsche Zeitung concluded, with one of their writers stating ‘Someone should tell Julian Nagelsmann: It can’t go on.’
Dietmar Hamann, who was part of the Germany side that reached the 2002 World Cup final, firmly blamed Nagelsmann for the national team’s latest failure as he accused the 38-year-old of ‘barely watching’ matches to analyse players or opponents.
‘I believe heart comes from team spirit, from being together, from trusting that your teammates will be there when you need them. I feel that was never the case under this coach,’ Hamann said on RTE.
‘They had a few performances that were okay, but on average their performances were disappointing. It was like that at the European Championships, it was like that at the qualifiers, and it was like that at the World Cup. They always talk about the atmosphere in the camp – it’s great to say that, but you have to show it!”
‘Obviously it’s the coach, it’s a coach’s job to get the lads together. This guy rarely watches games.
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Nagelsmann insisted he will not resign as head coach by calls have been made for his sacking
Kicker declared the elimination as an ‘indictment of German football and Nagelsmann’
‘He wasn’t even in Milan to see Bisseck, a player he should have taken to the World Cup. In two and a half years, he never went to Brentford to watch Schade, a player who scored ten goals last season. He probably watches one or two Bundesliga games a month.
‘There were Champions League matches where Real Madrid played. In January, there was the Africa Cup of Nations, where he could have seen Ivory Coast or other potential opponents. He didn’t go.
‘At the Club World Cup, where matches were played in stadiums, you would have seen the conditions here. Martinez was here, Tuchel was there, Deschamps, who is in his mid-50s, was here for three weeks. Who isn’t here? Our coach.
‘That’s why I have no sympathy for him. I believe he and the team got what they deserved.’
Nagelsmann’s future was also highlighted in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung with the newspaper concluding ‘this relationship is beyond saving’ with the expectation the 38-year-old leaves his position.
Attention immediately turned towards Jurgen Klopp as a possible successor to Nagelsmann, with the former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund boss having been long-touted as a likely coach of the national team.
Klopp was pitchside for the match in his role for German broadcaster Magenta TV and pushed back when asked about the role.
‘I have a job that I really enjoy and as far as I know, it’s not a part-time job,’ Klopp said.
Jurgen Klopp has been touted as a likely successor for Nagelsmann as Germany boss
‘The fact is, Germany was eliminated today, and this is not the moment for me to think about Jurgen Klopp’s future.’
When pressed on becoming head coach, Klopp insisted: ‘I haven’t thought about that yet. I’ve often been in that situation myself as a coach, where a big dream has been shattered.
‘I understand that when people talk about the national coach, my name is mentioned. But it’s not the right moment to talk about it, especially not with me.’
Klopp, however, was in agreement with World Cup winner Mats Hummels that tough decisions are needed after a sustained run of failures at major tournaments.
Germany have made three consecutive early exits since winning the World Cup in 2014, with group stage eliminations in 2018 and 2022 before a last-32 exit this year.
The national team were also eliminated in the last-16 and quarter-finals of the past two European Championships, with their last semi-final coming back in 2016.
Hummels insisted that Germany stars needed to take their share of the blame after falling short at major tournaments under several coaches.
The former defender stated that there is a ‘need for consequences’ and expects several members of the squad to announce their international retirements or be axed by the next Germany manager.
‘We’ve had the home European Championship, the home Nations League, and this tournament. In retrospect, the home European Championship is still being talked up too much in terms of sporting performance,’ Hummels said.
Germany were beaten on penalties for the first time with Jonathan Tah sending his effort over
‘The other two tournaments were both disappointing. That’s why this needs to be addressed. Both by the national coach himself and by the federation.
On the players’ side, I can certainly imagine that some will retire of their own accord.
‘One might also have to address decisions concerning players who are perhaps only in their early 30s now, but have already missed the chance to play a good tournament or achieve good results for Germany in four, five, six tournaments.
‘Because for me it’s no coincidence that Germany hasn’t had a single strong tournament since Euro 2016.
“It starts first and foremost with the players, because we’ve had several different coaches in between. And I expect some of them to say themselves, “I’m not continuing.”
‘But I also expect the current, or potentially new, national coach to make some tough decisions.’
A BILD columnist went as far as claiming the ‘coach, attitude and the performance of the German players are symptomatic of the state of the entire country’.
‘At best, we are second-class: our economy is experiencing a downward spiral that is unprecedented in every respect, bankruptcies and deindustrialisation every day,’ they wrote.
‘And football in Germany lives only on the reputation of the past.’
World Cup winner Mats Hummels called for consquences for the national team and stated he expects several members of the squad to announce their retirement from international football
The columnist raged over German chancellor Friedrich Merz’s statement to the team post-match on social media, where he wrote: ‘With your commitment and team spirit at this World Cup, you have inspired our country. We are proud of you.’
‘Chancellor, that’s just not true!! I don’t accept second-class status. I’m not proud. I’m angry. I’m disappointed. I’m angry! Our children only know Germany as losers,’ the columnist added.
‘Friedrich Merz, like Julian Nagelsmann, who does not even have the decency to resign now, apparently lives in a parallel world. Both are incapable of seeing their mistakes and taking responsibility. Critics are only complainers who do not want to see the “successes”.
The team didn’t fight. The coach’s performance was arrogant and arrogant. No fire. They’re all so full. A reflection of our society.’
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