Germany fell in the penalty shoot‑out against Paraguay

On 28 June 2026 the Germany national team was eliminated in the World Cup 2026 round of 16 after a 3‑4 penalty shoot‑out loss to Paraguay. The result followed a 1‑1 draw on 29 June, the last meeting between the sides. Jürgen Klopp, who has been watching German football for months, called the exit “dramatic” and sharply criticised the DFB.

Why Klopp calls the performance insufficient

Klopp stressed that “there are 500 000 ways to win a match – you just have to find one”. For him, creativity and wing play were missing, the only viable option. He pointed to a lack of tempo increase and finishing consistency. The former Red Bull coach also highlighted the mental pressure: “Germany had the pressure to achieve something, Paraguay had the chance to surprise.”

Current state of the national side

Germany’s recent form is mixed: the last five games show DLWWW (3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss). The most recent setback came against Paraguay, but before that Germany beat France and the Netherlands convincingly. N. Brown and N. Schlotterbeck are sidelined, weakening the defence. Up front, D. Undav leads the scoring charts with three goals in four appearances. The next test is an away match against the Netherlands on 24 September 2026, a key fixture for a bounce‑back.

What does this mean for the future?

Klopp demands structural changes at the DFB, from youth development to the U‑10 level. He believes young talents like Jude Bellingham and Florian Wirtz can form the backbone if given the right environment. The former Liverpool manager sees the coming months as an opportunity to revive the squad – but not immediately. “In three months we’ll be raving about Wirtz and Musiala again,” he said, “but not now.”

Bottom line: A wake‑up call for German football

Klopp ends with a clear appeal: the DFB must act now to fix the mistakes that led to the loss. He views the current crisis as a chance to inject fresh ideas into the system and nurture the next generation. The upcoming clash with the Netherlands will reveal whether the team learns from the lessons and regains its former strength.