Germany’s latest World Cup exit has plunged the nation into deep football crisis, raising serious questions about the future of manager Julian Nagelsmann.
The Germans were knocked out in the last 32, losing 4-3 on penalties to Paraguay after a 1-1 draw following extra time in Boston.
Paraguay were ranked 41st in the Fifa world rankings at the start of the tournament, with Germany sitting 10th, making the result a stunning upset.
It represents Germany’s third consecutive major tournament elimination and continues a run of misery stretching back to their 2014 World Cup triumph in Brazil.
Since that last World Cup success, Germany have twice failed to escape the group stage and have now fallen at the first knockout hurdle in 2026.
Nagelsmann spoke candidly after the final whistle, acknowledging the scale of the failure in blunt terms that will resonate painfully with German supporters.
“When you exit the World Cup after you play Paraguay it is very bitter. It is very hurtful,” said Nagelsmann. “This is the third elimination in a row, so we are not part of the first-class teams any more.”
Former Germany defender Arne Friedrich was equally damning in his assessment, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live after the defeat in Boston.
“If you consider the whole tournament, the way we played, it is a deserved loss,” Friedrich said. “Nagelsmann has to face the consequences. It is very disappointing, but that is sport. I would definitely say the journey continues without Nagelsmann.”
Former Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, speaking on BBC One, questioned how the team had reached this point in such poor shape.
“It’s hard to explain how Germany got into this tournament with so many problems. It’s unacceptable,” Hitzlsperger said. “It doesn’t look good for Nagelsmann. In the last few months, he hasn’t dealt with situations well.”
Arsenal’s Kai Havertz and Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade both had their penalty efforts saved by the Paraguay goalkeeper, fatally undermining Germany’s shootout hopes.
Jonathan Tah then blazed his attempt over the crossbar before defender Jose Canale converted to seal one of the most significant World Cup upsets in recent memory.
Germany had entered the shootout boasting a perfect record of played four, won four in World Cup penalty shootouts, making the manner of defeat all the more shocking.
Despite controlling 75% of possession in the match, Germany struggled to break down a disciplined Paraguay side who took the lead through Julio Enciso, the former Brighton and Ipswich player.
Havertz levelled with a glancing header early in the second half, but a goal from Tah was controversially ruled out after a foul was spotted from a team-mate moments before the finish.
German football journalist Raphael Honigstein delivered a scathing verdict on BBC Radio 5 Live, suggesting Nagelsmann’s position is effectively untenable after this result.
“You can get knocked out, but you can’t get knocked out against Paraguay at this stage in this manner,” Honigstein said. “There were too many big calls not coming off for Julian Nagelsmann. It is going to be very hard for him to survive this. I think it will be over for him, I am afraid.”
Despite the pressure, Nagelsmann insisted he has no intention of walking away from the role voluntarily and wants the German FA to keep faith in him.
“I’m not going to step back only because we are eliminated,” he said. “If the DFB want me to continue, I am going to continue. I know how the industry works and a lot of people now want me to leave. I want to continue if the German FA wants me to.”
Social media has already filled with calls for ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to replace Nagelsmann, with the front page of Bild newspaper carrying the headline translating as “The next German football nightmare.”
Hitzlsperger believes the problems run deeper than management, pointing to a fundamental cultural shift in how Germany develops and nurtures its football talent at academy level.
“We’ve lost that aura that made teams fear us,” Hitzlsperger said. “Other teams respect us but they don’t fear us any more. We’re no longer as difficult to beat, and we lack the physical presence we once had.”
Paraguay now advance to face either France or Sweden in the last 16 on Saturday, while Germany are left to reflect on yet another devastating and premature exit from a major tournament.
