Germany has been eliminated early from the World Cup for the third consecutive time. Kai Havertz and his teammates were understandably dejected after their dramatic exit in the Round of 16 against Paraguay (3:4 on penalties).
«I’m a bit lost for words. My second World Cup, twice I’ve messed it up. I can only apologize. Of course, we are all disappointed, we had set high goals,» said Havertz, whose first World Cup appearance was the group stage exit in Qatar 2022, after the surprising elimination.
«The Paraguayans defended deeply, making it difficult to create tempo. We tried through crosses, scoring the goal that way. But in the end, not much went right if you get eliminated by Paraguay,» Havertz continued. The Arsenal forward had equalized to make it 1-1 in the 54th minute, after Germany had been trailing at halftime due to Julio Enciso’s goal (42nd).
As the score remained 1-1 at the end of regular time, the third Round of 16 match of the 2026 World Cup went into extra time. In extra time, Jonathan Tah (102nd minute) scored a goal that appeared to be legitimate and could have secured victory and advancement. However, after a VAR review for an alleged foul by DFB defender Waldemar Anton on Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill in the build-up, the goal was unjustly disallowed.
«For me, that’s too petty. Of course, there’s contact with the goalkeeper. But I don’t see any pushing away, no shoving, no holding,» said referee expert Patrick Ittrich on MagentaTV, emphasizing, «For me, it’s the wrong decision.»
National coach Julian Nagelsmann, who was furious on the sidelines after the disallowed goal, ranted on MagentaTV about referee Jalal Jayed’s decision: «That’s a joke. I have no idea what he saw there.» Speaking to ZDF shortly after, he called it a «complete scandal. That’s not even remotely a foul.»
Mats Hummels Ignites Julian Nagelsmann Debate: ‘Must Be a Topic’
Havertz, when asked if Germany was now only second-class internationally after three very disappointing World Cups, replied: «It seems so, definitely.» The Arsenal star stressed: «Above all, we players – excluding the coach – must now look at ourselves. I can only apologize.»
Havertz was one of three German penalty takers, along with Nick Woltemade and Jonathan Tah, who failed to convert their spot-kicks. With only two Paraguayan players missing their penalties, the South Americans dramatically advanced to the Round of 16, where they will now face France or Sweden.
«We created too few chances. We lacked penetration,» analyzed goalkeeper Manuel Neuer on ZDF. «When you play against a team like that, you have to create more chances. It was too little from our side,» the Bayern keeper stated, not wanting to use the unjustly disallowed Tah goal as an excuse.
Substitue Nadiem Amiri was also «very disappointed, shocked,» according to the Mainz 05 midfielder. «We didn’t expect to be eliminated so early.»
While Nagelsmann, whose contract runs until after Euro 2028, ruled out resignation and left the decision about his future to the DFB, former German international Mats Hummels initiated a coaching debate: «On the responsibility side, this certainly calls for consequences. I can’t say anything else. We had the home Euros, the home Nations League, and this tournament here with a large field of participants. The home Euros is still being talked up too much for me. The other two tournaments were disappointing each time. Therefore, this must be a topic, both from the national coach himself and from the association. At least there must be discussions about it,» said the 2014 World Champion as an expert on MagentaTV.