Germany's fairytale World Cup dream has been brutally extinguished, as they succumbed to a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat to plucky Paraguay in Boston. The shock loss – which came after a 1-1 draw at the end of extra time – has sent shockwaves through the nation and intensified calls for manager Julian Nagelsmann to be given the boot.
The stats told one story: Germany, ranked 10th in the world, dominated possession with a whopping 75% of the ball against Paraguay, ranked 41st. But they couldn't quite click into gear, struggling to convert their territorial dominance into clear-cut chances. The South Americans were on fire, and Julio Enciso's surprise opener – courtesy of a former Brighton and Ipswich player – had them in dreamland before Kai Havertz levelled with a pinpoint glancing header early in the second half.
The drama didn't end there: Jonathan Tah's header was cruelly disallowed for an earlier foul, denying Germany a potential winner in normal time. But it was what happened next that will haunt Nagelsmann and his team – the penalty shootout, where Germany's usually unflappable nerves deserted them. Havertz saw his opening shot saved, followed by a miss from Newcastle's Nick Woltemade. Then, disaster struck: Tah blasted his effort over the bar, allowing Jose Canale to seal an historic victory for Paraguay.
Nagelsmann, who steered Bayern Munich to a Bundesliga title in 2022 before taking on the national team reins in 2023, was left reeling, stating, "When you exit the World Cup after you play Paraguay it is very bitter. It is very hurtful. This is the third elimination in a row, so we are not part of the first-class teams any more." His tenure has seen Germany reach the quarter-finals of the Euro 2024 tournament they hosted, and while their World Cup group stage started strongly with a 7-1 win over Curacao and a 2-1 victory against Ivory Coast, a 2-1 loss to Ecuador and now this defeat to Paraguay have raised serious questions.
The pressure on Nagelsmann is mounting, with former Germany defender Arne Friedrich telling BBC Radio 5 Live, "Nagelsmann has to face the consequences. It is very disappointing, but that is sport. I would definitely say the journey continues without Nagelsmann." Former midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger added on BBC One that it was "unacceptable" how Germany entered the tournament with so many problems and that Nagelsmann had not dealt with situations well. Despite the widespread criticism, Nagelsmann has indicated his desire to stay, stating he is "not someone who runs away" but acknowledging he would not be popular among German supporters.
The defeat marks a significant low point for a nation accustomed to deep runs in major tournaments, having won the World Cup four times and the European Championship three times. This latest early exit follows two consecutive group stage eliminations in previous World Cups, further highlighting a period of decline for the German national team.