Jurgen Klopp takes aim at Arsenal during World Cup coverage | OneFootball

Jurgen Klopp Questions VAR Call as Germany Suffer World Cup Shock Against Paraguay

Jurgen Klopp has never been a man to hide behind bland television analysis, and Germany’s dramatic World Cup exit to Paraguay gave him precisely the sort of controversy that invites a big opinion.

Germany are out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after losing 4-3 on penalties to Paraguay, following a 1-1 draw at Gillette Stadium in Boston. For a four-time world champion, elimination in the Round of 32 is painful enough. For it to arrive after a disallowed extra-time goal, with VAR at the centre of the debate, makes it feel even more brutal.

Paraguay led through Julio Enciso before Kai Havertz levelled for Germany, assisted by Florian Wirtz. Then came the moment that will dominate the post-mortem.

In the 102nd minute, Jonathan Tah climbed at the back post and headed Germany in front from a corner. At least, that was the initial feeling. The celebrations were quickly halted when VAR asked referee Jalal Jayed to review a possible foul by Waldemar Anton on Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill.

After checking the monitor, Jayed ruled the goal out.

Germany fury centres on corner controversy

This is where Klopp entered the conversation. Working as a pundit for MagentaTV, the former Liverpool manager took aim at the decision, and in doing so dragged Arsenal into the debate.

“If the goal is illegal, then Arsenal won’t be English champions,” Klopp told MagentaTV. “They’ve scored 60% of their goals that way. We win the game when the ball goes in. So, of course, this is brutal.”

Photo: IMAGO

It was vintage Klopp, emotional, direct and mischievous. The Arsenal reference will travel, of course, because it turns a World Cup VAR argument into a Premier League talking point. Arsenal’s rise under Mikel Arteta has been built partly on their mastery of set pieces, where blocking, movement and physical pressure have become core weapons rather than minor details.

Klopp’s wider point was simple enough. If that level of contact is enough to cancel Tah’s header, then football has a consistency problem.

Wirtz offers bright spark despite painful defeat

For Germany, Florian Wirtz was one of the few players to leave with some credit. His assist for Havertz showed his timing, invention and calm in a game that became increasingly tense.

From a Liverpool perspective, there is at least one practical consequence. Wirtz’s World Cup is over earlier than expected, meaning he should receive a proper rest before joining up for pre-season and potentially linking with the squad for the USA tour sooner than planned.

That will not soften the blow for Germany, though. This was supposed to be a tournament in which Nagelsmann’s side repaired reputations and reasserted themselves on the global stage. Instead, they are going home before the last 16.

Nagelsmann refuses to walk away

Julian Nagelsmann now faces the familiar German inquest. Yet he was clear after the defeat that resignation is not on his mind.

“I am not someone who runs away,” said the Germany head coach as quoted by the Guardian.

“This is not the first time this has happened, and there are some things about today that need to be changed. But if the DFB wants me to continue I am going to continue. I know the mechanics of football, I know how the industry works. I know a lot of people will want me to leave but I would love to continue if the football association wants me to.”

That is the sensible stance. Germany’s problems are bigger than one VAR call, one shoot-out, or one disallowed header. Yet football rarely waits for nuance. Klopp’s Arsenal jibe will provide the headline, but Germany’s deeper concern is that another major tournament has ended with more questions than answers.