German media turns on Nagelsmann after historic penalty defeat ends World Cup run

Germany’s World Cup campaign ended in historic humiliation on Tuesday as Paraguay beat them on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the round of 32, ending the four-time champions’ previously unblemished record in World Cup shootouts. Kai Havertz, Nick Woltemade and Jonathan Tah all missed for Germany before José Canale converted the decisive kick in sudden death to send the South Americans through.

The defeat has triggered a fierce reaction from the German press, with manager Julian Nagelsmann widely expected to pay with his job. Spiegel described the result as the “decline of a once great football nation” and stated bluntly: “German World Cup failure also bears the name Nagelsmann.” A poll on the Sky Sport Germany website showed 93 per cent of respondents calling for Nagelsmann — who holds a contract until 2028 — to leave.

Tableid Bild was equally damning, writing that Germany had “delivered a truly awful performance for much of the game. Slow. Boring. Lethargic. It’s another German football nightmare!” Sky Sport Germany reported that Nagelsmann’s side “lacked everything: speed, ideas, penetration, chances” in the first half, singling out Arsenal forward Havertz and branding the squad a “failed generation.” The outlet added: “The end, however bitter it may have been, is no surprise. Therefore, things cannot continue as they are.”

Bild has already identified a preferred successor, calling former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp “uniquely qualified to save German football” and saying of Nagelsmann: “On the contrary, he crashed headlong into a wall.”

The reaction extended beyond Germany’s borders. Spain’s Marca noted that Germany had now failed to progress from the group stage at two consecutive World Cups before this tournament, writing: “Germany is no longer Germany. Paraguay sent them home in the first round on penalties — a discipline in which the Germans had previously been infallible at World Cups.” Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport offered a terse verdict — “Germany, what a flop!” — while Mexico’s Esto declared: “The German myth is over!”

The result represents one of the darkest days in German football history, coming just two years after the country hosted Euro 2024 and with a squad that was expected to challenge deep into the tournament.