Germany questions footballing identity after fresh World Cup failure
The Munich-based daily 'Sueddeutsche Zeitung' called defeat in penalty as "a new humiliation", adding the Germans were "heading home with a thoroughly deserved return ticket".
German football magazine Kicker lamented a "damning indictment and proof that Germany is drifting further and further away from the world's elite".
Germany ‘forgot to fight’ in shock World Cup defeat to Paraguay, says former international
Julian Nagelsmann head coach of Germany men's national football team
Germany have now been eliminated early in the past three World Cups.
Once boasting club-made talents the envy of Europe, Germany's ability to produce quality players has fallen behind European rivals France, Spain and England over the past decade.
Since beating Argentina 1-0 to win the World Cup in 2014, Germany have not only been unable to win an elimination match at the tournament, but they have also failed to keep a clean sheet.
Despite being Europe's most populous nation, where football is by far the dominant sport, Germany lack depth.
While injuries to teenage forward Lennart Karl, veteran striker Serge Gnabry and first-choice centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck have hurt the Germans, other major European nations can afford to leave star players at home.
Kicker cited France's Eduardo Camavinga, Christopher Nkunku and Randal Kolo Muani, England's Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer and Spain defender Dean Huijsen as examples.
Germany's shallow talent pool ups the pressure on their few remaining world-class players to perform.
Kai Havertz, Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala all entered the tournament after challenging seasons and have been unable to reproduce their best form in North America, despite showing glimpses of their quality.
'Become Germany again'
Nagelsmann has copped much of the ire.
Having taken over as coach despite reportedly being courted by Europe's top clubs, Nagelsmann's appointment was considered a coup for the German FA (DFB).
But with the 38-year-old's high point a last-eight defeat to Spain on home soil at Euro 2024, calls are growing to avoid hanging onto a manager too long after a World Cup setback, as with predecessors Joachim Loew and Hansi Flick.
Lothar Matthaeus, a World Cup winner in 1990, wrote in his Bild column that Nagelsmann lacked "imagination", adding Germany "have to move forward with a new coach".
Nagelsmann admitted "big changes" were needed but pledged to stay on, saying: "I'm not one to run away. I'm ready to continue".
ends
Four-time FIFA WC champions needs to look inward. Their Bundesliga has lost appeal as did Italian league, Serie A, was struck a decade ago. Imagine Italy hasn't even qualified for the WC for three editions in a row. Though Germans have steered away from Bundesliga's inability to produce homegrown talent and ha e been at the WC since winning the title in 2014. The 2026 R-32 exit laid bare Germany's inability in coping up with the standards even the smaller countries have reached. - Patil bhau, Maharashtra
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