Jurgen Klopp takes dig at Arsenal after Germany goal was disallowed at FIFA World Cup (Image source: Getty)
Jurgen Klopp takes dig at Arsenal after Germany goal was disallowed at FIFA World Cup (Image source: Getty)
Jurgen Klopp took aim at Arsenal after Germany’s goal against Paraguay was disallowed in the Round of 32 clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
While Paraguay pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament by eliminating Germany, the European side were controversially denied a goal that could have seen them win the contest.
After a 1-1 draw in regulation time, Jonathan Tah found the net before the extra time break with a powerful header. However, the goal was ruled out after a VAR review, with the referee ruling that Waldemar Anton had committed a foul on Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill.
VAR has since been criticised for its role in the decision, with many saying the contact was too minimal to be penalised as a foul. Speaking about the incident, Klopp questioned the refereeing standards and asserted that 60 percent of Arsenal’s goals during the 2025/26 season were scored in the same manner.
“If the goal is illegal, then Arsenal won’t be English champions,’ Klopp told MagentaTV. ‘They’ve scored 60 percent of their goals that way. We win the game when the ball goes in. So, of course, this is brutal.”
“There are worse things than defeats in sports. But there was only one goal, one dream, and that has been shattered. It was dramatic,’ he said. There are 500,000 ways to win a football match. You just have to find one.”
While they won the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years, Arsenal were infamous for their imposing set-piece tactics, which involve crowding and heavily bumping into goalkeepers during corner kicks.
With neither side able to produce a winner after 120 minutes, the match went to a penalty shoot-out. However, it was Paraguay that progressed as they edged a 4-3 win.
Germany no longer part of first-class teams – Julian Nagelsmann
Speaking after his team’s elimination, Julian Nagelsmann said Germany are no longer among the world’s elite, noting that they have after exited the World Cup for the third time in a row. Monday’s game in Houston was just Die Mannschaft’s first defeat in a World Cup knockout match since 2010 and the first time they had lost a World Cup penalty shoot-out.
“This is now (our) third elimination in a row so we are not part of the first-class teams any more. It doesn't matter if it is me, (Hansi) Flick or (Joachim) Low. We tried new things but kept foundations. There are a few things we need to address in the future,” Nagelsmann told reporters.
“We don't have many left-backs available. Schlotterbeck not playing hurts us. Not many players in the German Bundesliga who have these profiles. After the first goal conceded we realized we were not dominant enough. It took some time. The crosses didn't really hurt the opponent. Few solutions. If they work on the pitch I don't know. Only the future will tell.”
Germany were by far the better team on the night. They completed 719 passes, had 75% possession, and had 21 shots to Paraguay’s 7.