Germany did manage to survive the group stage for the first time since winning the trophy in 2014, but it\u2019s little consolation after Monday\u2019s loss to unheralded Paraguay on penalties<\/a> sent the team home after the first knockout game.<\/p>\n \u201cWe messed it up,\u201d Joshua Kimmich told reporters after the match in Foxborough, Massachusetts.<\/p>\n It was a familiar feeling for the Germany captain who also struggled for explanations after the team\u2019s group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup<\/a> in Qatar.<\/p>\n \n Germany’s Jamal Musiala (10) and Malick Thiaw (24) walk off the field after losing to Paraguay in a shootout during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo\/Steven Senne)\n <\/p>\n Germany’s Jamal Musiala (10) and Malick Thiaw (24) walk off the field after losing to Paraguay in a shootout during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo\/Steven Senne)<\/p>\n Add AP News on Google <\/p>\n Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n \n Germany’s Nick Woltemade (11) walks off the field after losing to Paraguay in a shootout during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo\/Steven Senne)\n <\/p>\n Germany’s Nick Woltemade (11) walks off the field after losing to Paraguay in a shootout during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo\/Steven Senne)<\/p>\n Add AP News on Google <\/p>\n Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n \u201cAs a child, when you watched the national team during tournaments, it was always semifinals, finals, or world champions. There was always lots of success. You grew up with that, cheering them on,\u201d the 31-year-old Kimmich said Monday, when he apologized for the team failing to meet expectations.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of us who were on the pitch should feel that, rather than looking to blame someone else. We blew it,\u201d Kimmich said in comments reported by dpa.<\/p>\n Coach under fire<\/p>\n Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann is in the firing line after some contentious calls \u2014 particularly after recalling veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from international retirement just before the tournament after months of denials.<\/p>\n The 40-year-old Neuer failed to justify his inclusion at the expense of Hoffenheim\u2019s Oliver Baumann, and was arguably at fault for Ecuador\u2019s winning goal in the last group game.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann claps hands to supporters after losing the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Germany and Paraguay in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo\/Martin Meissner)<\/p>\n Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann claps hands to supporters after losing the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Germany and Paraguay in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo\/Martin Meissner)<\/p>\n Add AP News on Google <\/p>\n Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n \u201cI gave it my all,\u201d Neuer said.<\/p>\n Nagelsmann finally bowed to pressure and gave forward Deniz Undav his first start against Paraguay, but the move didn\u2019t pay off as the Kurdish Yazidi player<\/a> was unable to add to his three goals and two assists from his first two games as a substitute.<\/p>\n Nagelsmann was also criticized for not playing forward Nick Woltemade at all until he sent him on with extra time looming against Paraguay. Woltemade was among three players who missed in the penalty shootout.<\/p>\n False hope<\/p>\n Nagelsmann had raised expectations by saying Germany was aiming to win the title. Ultimately, his team failed to show any justification for such hopes.<\/p>\n Germany played four games at the World Cup, winning two against debutant Cura\u00e7ao and Ivory Coast, before the losses to Ecuador and Paraguay.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Paraguay\u2019s Fabian Balbuena (5) looks on as German players react during a penalty shootout at the end of during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Germany and Paraguay in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo\/Petr David Josek)<\/p>\n Paraguay\u2019s Fabian Balbuena (5) looks on as German players react during a penalty shootout at the end of during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Germany and Paraguay in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo\/Petr David Josek)<\/p>\n Add AP News on Google <\/p>\n Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n While Paraguay\u2019s win was joyously celebrated on the streets of its capital, Asunci\u00f3n, it was considered a major shock \u2014 few German fans knew any of the Paraguayan players before the match, and they were already looking forward to a likely Round of 16 meeting with France, which plays Sweden on Tuesday.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to beat such a team,\u201d Neuer said of Paraguay. \u201cThat\u2019s a fact when you want to measure yourself against teams like France.\u201d<\/p>\n Nagelsmann has vowed to stay on as coach, though he was also criticized for his prickly responses to questions after the game.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m still convinced that he\u2019s probably the right one to continue,\u201d Germany team director Rudi V\u00f6ller said. \u201cIt\u2019s not only up to me.\u201d <\/p>\n Serious talks ahead<\/p>\n Bernd Neuendorf, the president of the German soccer federation, said Tuesday he already met \u201cat length\u201d with Nagelsmann, V\u00f6ller and sporting director Andreas Rettig, and they agreed \u201cour performance at the World Cup fell short of our standards.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn the coming days, we will calmly look at the reasons why the team was unable to realize its potential and failed to meet both its own expectations and those of the German football community,\u201d Neuendorf said. \u201cAfter such a crushing blow, we cannot and do not wish to simply return to business as usual.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Germany's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1782846130_942_.jpeg\")
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