Jurgen Klopp backed for stunning managerial return as Germany crash out of World Cup

Germany were knocked out of the World Cup with a penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay in the round of 32.

Jonathan Tah missed the decisive sudden-death spot-kick, which allowed Jose Canale to fire Paraguay to a 4-3 shootout win after the game had finished 1-1 following normal and extra-time.

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After Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade both missed earlier on in the shootout, the Central American nation passed up their first two opportunities to win the marathon match.

Antonio Sanabria and Fabian Balbuena failed to convert, as Germany dragged themselves level to force sudden death.

But ultimately Julian Nagelsmann‘s side came out second best, as they fell to an historic defeat.

This was the first time ever that the four-time champions have lost a World Cup penalty shootout, having won all of their previous four.

The game went to extra time after Havertz’s header cancelled out Julio Enciso’s surprise opener, with Tah then seeing a header controversially ruled out by VAR in extra time.

Klopp to return?

It’s a result that left talkSPORT commentator Kevin Hatchard fearing for the future of Germany boss Nagelsmann.

Reacting to the result at full-time, Hatchard said: “Yes, Nagelsmann has a contract until the next Euros but serious questions are going to be asked.”

Hatchard continued: “There’s going to be a big clamour for Jurgen Klopp… he’s at Red Bull but I think the one role he’d leave this role for is the German national team. He’s really popular in Germany.”

After tipping Liverpool great Klopp for the top job, Hatchard claimed Nagelsmann has failed to instill a winning mentality in his team.

He added: “There’s a fragility about this German side, we’ve seen it against the top teams… they pushed Spain all the way at the last Euros but at this tournament they’ve never looked quite right.”

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What next for Nagelsmann?

As Hatchard alluded to, Germany’s dismal World Cup performance will no doubt raise question marks over Nagelsmann’s future.

Speaking afterwards, the Germany boss confirmed he would not resign.

“I am not someone who runs away,” he said. “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 DFB wants me to.”

The ex-RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich boss was appointed national team boss in 2023, replacing Hansi Flick in the role.

In his first major tournament, Euro 2024, he led Germany to the semi-finals of the home tournament, where they were beaten by eventual winners Spain after extra time.

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Despite missing out on glory, Nagelsmann was awarded a new contract until Euro 2028 in January 2025.

But it now remains to be seen if the 38-year-old will stay in the job until then, with Klopp sure to be among those considered if Germany do opt for a change in management.

The iconic former Liverpool boss has not managed since his Anfield departure in 2024, and has never coached internationally.

Klopp is currently working for Red Bull as their head of global soccer, a role he has held since the start of last year.

Despite his new role, where he earns an estimated £8-10million, and stating previously he does not ‘miss coaching’, Klopp has been linked to a swathe of vacancies across Europe’s elite.

Meanwhile, talkSPORT’s Ally McCoist previously tipped him to take charge of either England or Germany as his next role.

More German misery

Germany’s shock exit sees their World Cup woes continue. The footballing giants have been eliminated early on each occasion since their 2014 triumph.

In both 2018 and 2022, they failed to progress beyond the group stage, but sailed through to the knockouts this time around.

Nagelsmann’s side had topped Group E to banish their past demons, but looked far from the challengers they were expected to be against Paraguay.

They struggled to break down the Central American nation, only managing to force extra-time thanks to Havertz’s second-half equaliser.

And while Germany suffered unwanted history as they finally fell victim to a World Cup shootout defeat, their opponents celebrated a first of their own.

Paraguay had never won a World Cup knockout match before, and will now face either France or Sweden in Philadelphia on Saturday for a place in the quarter-finals.

Havertz: Something was missing

After his missed penalty contributed to Germany’s early exit, goalscorer Havertz gave a frank assessment of his team’s showings at this World Cup.

The Arsenal star said afterwards: “I don’t have much to say.

“This is now my second World Cup and we’ve missed moving onto the next round twice now in a row. I want to apologise for that.

“We are all very disappointed. We had many plans for this year’s World Cup. It is not a very good feeling to disappoint again. The team tried a lot.”

Havertz added: “During the tournament, you really have to give it your all.

“I don’t think we played bad football, but something was always missing and that was the case today as well.

“As players, we need to look at ourselves and what we can do better. We play for such a big football nation. If you get eliminated early, you don’t deserve to stay.”