Los Angeles: Germany captain Joshua Kimmich delivered a brutally honest assessment of his team’s performance after their shock penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32, saying the players themselves were responsible for the elimination.
Germany suffered a humiliating exit for the third consecutive World Cup campaign, once again failing to reach the knockout stages in regulation time. Paraguay, who entered the Round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams, held their nerve in a dramatic shootout to send the European giants crashing out of the tournament.
Kimmich refuses to blame referee or VAR controversy
There was controversy during extra time when Germany defender Jonathan Tah saw his header ruled out by VAR, a decision that many felt could have changed the outcome of the match.
However, Kimmich refused to use the incident as an excuse, insisting that Germany should have finished the job within 120 minutes regardless of refereeing decisions or penalty shootout pressure.
“No one should even think about blaming the referee or the penalty shootout today,” Kimmich said. “If you cannot manage to win over 120 minutes, then you deserve to be eliminated.”
He added that Germany lacked the necessary quality and control to overcome an opponent like Paraguay, stressing that the responsibility lay entirely with the players on the pitch.
‘We messed it up again,’ admits Germany captain
Kimmich did not hold back in describing the nature of Germany’s defeat, calling the exit “awful” and admitting that the team had failed to live up to the expectations associated with German football history.
He reflected on Germany’s tradition of reaching semi-finals and finals in major tournaments, contrasting it with the current team’s repeated early exits over the past eight years.
According to Kimmich, the squad once again failed to inspire confidence or create a sense of unity and belief among fans, something he described as a key responsibility of the national team.
Growing pressure on German football setup
The defeat is expected to intensify scrutiny on Germany’s management and long-term planning, with captain Kimmich himself acknowledging the collective failure of the squad.
He also expressed disappointment at leading the team through another early exit, saying that responsibility must be shared among all players rather than externalising blame.
Despite the setback, Kimmich made it clear that Germany must take accountability and rebuild their approach if they want to return to their traditional dominance in international football.
Conclusion
Germany’s exit at the hands of Paraguay has triggered serious introspection within the squad, with captain Joshua Kimmich openly admitting to collective failure. The result marks another disappointing chapter for a team once known for its consistency on the world stage.