Jurgen Klopp linked Germany's disallowed World Cup goal to Arsenal's goal-scoring success during their 2025 Premier League Championship run for a comparison that didn't sit well with Gunners fans
03:03, 01 Jul 2026
Jurgen Klopp provides analysis for Germany vs Paraguay
Jurgen Klopp took a shot at Arsenal after Germany's World Cup exit
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp used Arsenal’s Premier League title-winning tactics as a way to criticize a controversial refereeing decision that knocked his German team out of the World Cup.
Klopp spoke out against the VAR decision that canceled Jonathan Tah's extra-time goal in Germany's loss to Paraguay. The match ended with Paraguay winning the penalty shootout 4-3.
Germany believed they had scored a dramatic World Cup winner in extra time, much like Iran’s disappointment in the group stage when their 93rd-minute goal was ruled offside against Egypt. Referee Jalal Jayed overturned Tah’s goal after a VAR review.
Meanwhile, Klopp believes Andoni Iraola will take time to succeed at Liverpool following his replacement or Arne Slot.
Klopp said the decision did not align with what fans usually expect, while working as an analyst for a platform that broadcasts every World Cup game in 4K across Germany. "If the goal is illegal, then Arsenal won't be English champions," Klopp said. "They've scored 60 percent of their goals that way."
Arsenal led the Premier League in set-piece goals during their 2025-26 title-winning season, scoring 25 times from dead-ball situations. They finished the season with no major VAR issues and didn't concede a penalty or earn a red card. Arsenal fans criticized Klopp online for his comments.
One wrote, "Show me five goals scored by Arsenal like the one Germany scored. Just five, not even 60 percent." Another replied, "He's totally wrong. As well as bitter." Fans also shared old clips of Klopp’s past disagreements with Arsenal.
Jurgen Klopp salutes German fans during the World Cup
Klopp was in attendance for the World Cup Germany and Paraguay matchup in Boston
World Cup officials said German centerback Waldemar Anton fouled Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill in the build-up, so the score remained 1-1.
Paraguay then won the penalty shootout and knocked out the four-time world champions behind Jose Canale's sudden-death winner. Tah missed Germany's final penalty chance with his shot sailing over the crossbar.
It was the first penalty Tah had ever taken in his 14-season career across four professional clubs, both internationally and domestically. Polymarket reported that several German players declined to take the high-pressure shot that led to their elimination.
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While managing Liverpool, Klopp once compared his aggressive "heavy metal football" style to Arsene Wenger’s possession-based approach, calling it a symphony. He said, "It is a silent song. I like heavy metal more."
Klopp’s frustration over Germany’s World Cup exit was quickly overshadowed by speculation about Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann’s future and renewed talk of Klopp as a possible replacement.
Nagelsmann dismissed any talk of quitting, saying: "I won't step down. If the DFB wants me to continue, I'll continue." Klopp remains happy in his role as Red Bull's head of Global Football and continues to brush off talks of replacing Nagelsmann.