Germany: The Low Point of a Loser Generation?

"Messed up twice"

For Havertz, who won the Premier League with the "Gunners," it is his second disappointing World Cup with Germany. He was already part of the group stage exit in Qatar in 2022. "My second World Cup, messed up twice. The last tournaments were nothing. The only thing I can say is: Sorry," said the visibly dejected forward.

The DFB squad was largely unconvincing for significant parts of the tournament. The 7:1 opening victory against Curacao was followed by a last-minute win over Ivory Coast and a 1:2 defeat to Ecuador.

The mixed performances continued in the round of 32. "I think we had control. We simply lacked the punch," says coach Julian Nagelsmann, who speaks of an "extremely great" disappointment.

The next referee scandal? "That's a joke"

Incidentally, Germany did not create many clear goal-scoring opportunities against the deep-sitting underdog. In injury time, Tah suddenly scored what seemed to be the 2:1 – supposedly.

However, the referee had previously called a foul by Waldemar Anton on the goalkeeper. A block by the defender is also visible in the replays. "It's a joke that he whistles that. I have no idea what he's seeing there," Nagelsmann complained. But he doesn't accept it as an excuse: "You still have to win against Paraguay; in the end, it's not enough."

And in the penalty lottery, Germany ultimately drew the short straw. "Normally, against such an opponent – with all due respect – it shouldn't even come to a penalty shootout," emphasizes captain Joshua Kimmich.

Currently only second-rate?

Germany's 2026 World Cup campaign joins a string of disappointing tournaments. Since 2016, they have not reached the semi-finals at either a European Championship or a World Cup.

According to "Sport1," Kimmich already expressed in 2022 the fear of becoming part of a loser generation. At the time, Antonio Rüdiger referred to it: "That's not a nice feeling, but are we therefore a loser generation?"

After the latest disappointment, the question likely arises again.

Havertz, when asked after the Paraguay game, at least stated that Germany is currently only second-rate.

In einer Zeit, wo es uns in Deutschland extrem guttun würde, etwas zu haben, worauf wir stolz sein können. Die Nationalmannschaft ist es momentan leider nicht.

Joshua Kimmich

"I remember Germany as a child watching TV: it was always a semi-final or a final. You want to give that to the current generation too," explains the DFB captain, elaborating.

"The fact is, we couldn't give that to all the people out there. Especially at a time when it would do us a lot of good in Germany to have something to be proud of. The national team, unfortunately, is not that at the moment."

According to Kimmich, the team alone bears the responsibility for this. "We messed it up, not the coaches, the media, or the referee."

Hummels Demands Resignations

In his role as a TV expert, Mats Hummels expresses harsh criticism of the German national team. The ex-professional could imagine that "one or the other will resign."

Furthermore, he could also imagine that other key players from recent years will no longer be invited.

"For me, it's no coincidence that there hasn't been a single strong tournament since the 2016 European Championship. And that is primarily due to the players."

Nagelsmann and Kimmich Want to Continue

The captain, at least, doesn't want to abandon ship yet. "I always have the energy for another attempt. What I will never do is give up," Kimmich emphasizes.

And national coach Nagelsmann also doesn't want to resign – at least not shortly after the game. "I am ready if that's what is wanted. If it's not, then I need to be told."

Incidentally, host Johannes B. Kerner confronted Nagelsmann with the fact that DFB national coach Berti Vogts became European champion two years after the 1994 World Cup in the USA. Unlike two years ago, there was no announcement from the current national coach in response: "I'd rather not say anything about that, otherwise I'll have stress again for two years."