Germany World Cup Exit: Nagelsmann Reacts, Jürgen Klopp Questions VAR Call

Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann admitted his side paid the price for slow attacking play after their FIFA World Cup campaign ended with a shock Round of 32 defeat to Paraguay.

Germany were knocked out after losing 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in Boston. Kai Havertz, Nick Woltemade and Jonathan Tah all failed to convert from the spot as Paraguay booked their place in the next round.

Nagelsmann said his players failed to take control of the game before it reached penalties and were not direct enough in the final third.

“There’s a real sense of dejection in the dressing room. Unfortunately, that’s how football works sometimes; some teams can win with simple means. And you have to defend against those means consistently,” Nagelsmann said.

“We took too long to make our opponent chase the game. We could have put the ball into the box far more often.

“We have to settle the game before it gets to [penalties]. Our build-up play was too slow.”

Paraguay had gone ahead through Julio Enciso before Havertz levelled early in the second half. Germany thought they had found a dramatic winner in extra time when Jonathan Tah headed home, only for the goal to be ruled out after a VAR review for a foul by Waldemar Anton on goalkeeper Orlando Gill.

Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp was among those who criticised the decision, arguing that similar goals have regularly been allowed in the Premier League.

Klopp told Magenta TV, “If the goal is illegal, then Arsenal won’t be English champions. They’ve scored 60 percent of their goals that way.

“We win the game when the ball goes in. So, of course, this is brutal.”