Germany’s national football team suffered an early World Cup exit, losing to "unheralded Paraguay" on penalties, marking a profound national humiliation. This defeat meant the team failed to survive the group stage for the first time since winning the trophy 12 years ago in 2014. Captain Joshua Kimmich expressed the team’s collective failure, telling reporters, “We messed it up.”
Kimmich reflected on a past when the national team consistently reached “semifinals, finals, or world champions.” He added, “All of us who were on the pitch should feel that, rather than looking to blame someone else. We blew it.” This sentiment underscores a significant loss of national sporting pride and a departure from past glories.
Elite Disconnect
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz posted on social media, “What a match, @DFB_Team! You thrilled our country with your commitment and team spirit at this World Cup. We’re proud of you.” This statement was quickly mocked on X, with many users asking “which match” he was referring to. The public reaction highlighted a stark disconnect between the political elite and the people’s perception of national performance. FDP politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann commented, “I honestly don’t know which was worse. The match or this analysis.”
Bernd Neuendorf, president of the German soccer federation, acknowledged the team’s performance “fell short of our standards.” He stated that in the coming days, they would “calmly look at the reasons why the team was unable to realize its potential.” This institutional response suggests a recognition of failure, yet the political class remained detached from the national mood.
The Cost of Experimentation
Coach Julian Nagelsmann faced significant criticism for contentious calls that arguably contributed to the team’s downfall. He recalled veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from international retirement just before the tournament, despite months of denials. The 40-year-old Neuer failed to justify his inclusion, arguably at fault for Ecuador’s winning goal in the last group game.
Nagelsmann also drew fire for not playing forward Nick Woltemade until extra time against Paraguay, with Woltemade later missing in the penalty shootout. In a move reflecting modern diversity mandates, Nagelsmann had given Deniz Undav, a Kurdish Yazidi player, his first start against Paraguay. This decision did not pay off, as Undav was unable to add to his three goals and two assists from his first two games as a substitute. Germany won only two of its four games, against debutant Curaçao and Ivory Coast, before suffering losses to Ecuador and Paraguay. Nagelsmann has vowed to stay on as coach, with a contract running through the European Championship in two years.
Sovereignty Asserted Elsewhere
Meanwhile, the U.S. government demonstrated a contrasting assertion of national interest during the same tournament. It refused to grant visas to key members of the Iranian team’s staff, relocating their base camp from Arizona and denying their request to move matches to Mexico. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin openly celebrated Iran's elimination, stating he was “just glad they’re done and they’re not coming back.” He added that he “might have sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance.”
Mullin asserted that many of the people Iran originally requested to travel with the team were associated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. The Iranian team, departing North America on Tuesday, criticized the U.S. actions. They stated Mullin’s remarks showed a “lack of commitment to international law and the basic standards expected to host a global tournament.” This complaint highlights the tension between national sovereignty and the rhetoric of global governance. The team’s statement to The Associated Press on Monday highlighted a “series of decisions, logistical arrangements, and circumstances that undermined the sense of fairness.”
Divisions emerged within the Iranian diaspora regarding support for the team. Some members opposed Iran’s theocratic government, questioning whether supporting the team implied tacit backing. Others, like Mohammad Modarres, 38, argued for separating politics and sports, noting, “You don’t see someone screaming at (U.S. soccer star) Christian Pulisic for something Trump does.” The team itself avoided direct comments on the war but wore pins with the number “168” when they first landed in Mexico, referencing victims of a missile strike, mostly children. They left a note in the locker room calling for peace “among all nations.”