Image Credits: Imago Images
For Germany fans, the unthinkable has happened – another early World Cup exit and a first-ever penalty shootout defeat at the tournament.
As debate grows over Julian Nagelsmann’s future, questions are already being raised about whether the German Football Association should turn to Jurgen Klopp as a replacement.
Nagelsmann insisted he will not step down after the last-32 defeat to Paraguay on Monday, saying: “I won’t step down. If the DFB wants me to continue, I’ll continue, but I know how the industry works. I know a lot of people will want me to leave now but I’ll continue if the DFB wants me to stay.
“If we were to do a survey in Germany today, the German people wouldn’t speak very positively about me. We haven’t done much in this tournament for people to celebrate. I know that not everyone in Germany will agree with me staying on.”
However, frustration is mounting among supporters, with concerns over both results and his public communication style, which has often appeared tense and reactive.
In contrast, former Liverpool manager Klopp has been a popular figure during the World Cup while working as a television pundit in Germany.
According to Sky Germany’s Patrick Berger, Jurgen Klopp would be ready to take the Germany job if approached by the German Football Association. Julian Nagelsmann remains under contract with Germany until Euro 2028, reportedly earning up to €8m per year.
Klopp stepped away from club management after leaving Liverpool in 2024. The 59-year-old responded to renewed speculation following the national team’s round of 32 exit to Paraguay.
Klopp told Magenta TV: “I haven’t thought about that yet. I understand that when the national coach position is discussed, my name is mentioned in some form. But it’s not the moment to really talk about it. There’s nothing to say about it. I have a job that I enjoy very much. As far as I know, it’s not a part-time job.”
Klopp, meanwhile, highlighted a clear lack of execution from Germany’s key creative players, before suggesting that the German Football Association (DFB) may require a complete reset in philosophy from youth development through to the senior national team structure.
Klopp added: “You have to attack down the wings. There’s no alternative. We all know how well these guys can play, but they didn’t bring that to the pitch. In three months, we’ll be raving about [Florian] Wirtz and [Jamal] Musiala again about how great they are, but not now.
“Paraguay had the opportunity to achieve something, Germany was under pressure to achieve something. Everyone in the stadium thought: Now they’ll turn it around! But we didn’t. We let them off the hook.
“We can talk about the DFB. We absolutely have to change a few things. We can start with the U-10s and wait a few years to see what the results are.”