Germany were sensationally knocked out of the World Cup by Paraguay on penalties in the round of 32, with the result sparking a furious reaction from the country's media and calls for Julian Nagelsmann to be replaced
11:35, 30 Jun 2026Updated 11:41, 30 Jun 2026
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 29: Florian Wirtz of Germany reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Florian Wirtz and Germany are out of the World Cup(Image: Getty Images)
Germany's catastrophic World Cup elimination has plunged the nation's press into turmoil, with widespread demands for leadership changes. The four-time world champions were knocked out after losing on penalties to Paraguay following a 1-1 stalemate in the last-32.
The nature of the defeat proved even more astonishing. Germany had previously maintained an unblemished World Cup penalty shootout record, but that distinction was spectacularly ended by the South American side, who defended resolutely throughout 120 minutes before Jose Canale converted the decisive spot-kick in sudden death after Kai Havertz, Nick Woltemade and Jonathan Tah had failed from 12 yards.
The outcome is broadly anticipated to mark the conclusion of manager Julian Nagelsmann's tenure, who had already faced opposition from certain supporters and journalists. Demands for his departure have now reached fever pitch following what ranks among the darkest chapters in German football's history, reports The Mirror.
Tabloid Bild declared Germany had "delivered a truly awful performance for much of the game. Slow. Boring. Lethargic. It's another German football nightmare!" Spiegel described it as the "decline of a once great football nation" and continued: "German World Cup failure also bears the name Nagelsmann."
Sky Sport Germany reported that Nagelsmann's team "lacked everything: speed, ideas, penetration, chances" during the opening period. Numerous "established players" faced sharp criticism, including Arsenal's Havertz, while the squad was labelled a "failed generation.
Once more, Nagelsmann bore the heaviest criticism, with the report stating: "The end, however bitter it may have been, is no surprise. Therefore, things cannot continue as they are."
Julian Nagelsmann
Julian Nagelsmann is unlikely to keep his job(Image: VCG via Getty Images)
In a survey conducted on the Sky Sport Germany website, 93 per cent of respondents demanded that Nagelsmann, whose contract runs until 2028, should step down.
Bild has already made its preference for a successor abundantly clear: Jurgen Klopp. The publication described the former Liverpool boss as "uniquely qualified to save German football" following Nagelsmann's failure to achieve this.
It harshly concluded: "On the contrary, he crashed headlong into a wall."
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Liverpool star Florian Wirtz didn't escape the criticism either. Although the 23-year-old grabbed an assist for Havertz's equalizer, Allgemeine Zeitung bemoaned his impact on the game.
"The strike partnership of Undav and Havertz remained completely ineffective, while on the wings, Leroy Sané and Wirtz either failed to make an impact or further hampered their efforts with misplaced passes and easy turnovers," it said.
German head coach Jurgen Klopp reacts during the penalty shootout of the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between Germany and Paraguay at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 29, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp has been urged to take over the German national team(Image: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, AFP via Getty Images)
International press outlets have likewise seized upon the story. Spanish publication Marca proclaimed: "Germany is no longer Germany. They failed to advance from the group stage at two consecutive World Cups – an unprecedented feat.
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"On their third attempt, they made it. But they didn't get any further. Paraguay sent them home in the first round on penalties – a discipline in which the Germans had previously been infallible at World Cups. Germany is not what it once was."
Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport declared: "Germany, what a flop!" while Mexican outlet Esto proclaimed: "The German myth is over!".