From our special correspondent in Boston,

The echoes of 1998 resounded through the stadium. The same blazing sun, familiar names (Enciso, Paredes, Arce, Sanabria), the iconic red and white striped jerseys, and that impenetrable defensive wall against which every German attack shattered without a hint of a breach. However, this Germany was not France. And, against Paraguay on Monday in Boston, the Mannschaft failed to find their Laurent Blanc during extra time. To widespread disbelief, they were ultimately ousted in a penalty shootout (1-1, 4-3 t.a.b.) during the World Cup Round of 16, despite being considered strong contenders.

This marks a troubling pattern: for the third consecutive time, following disappointing campaigns in 2018 and 2022 (when the tournament featured 32 teams), Germany has failed to advance past the Round of 16. More significantly, they faltered in what was once their undisputed strength: the penalty shootout. This was their first-ever defeat in a World Cup penalty decider. The stunned expressions of German journalists in the press box conveyed the sheer magnitude of this footballing catastrophe, highlighting the profound shock reverberating through the German sporting community.

“we didn’t succeed,” laments kimmich

“This is one of the worst days for German football,” one journalist vaguely conceded in English in the mixed zone, quickly retreating as jubilant Paraguayan colleagues, adorned in Albirroja jerseys and flags, paraded past with beaming smiles. Meanwhile, Joshua Kimmich, jaw clenched, faced the media, grappling to articulate the inexplicable.

« “It’s terrible,” the German captain stated before the microphones. “As a child, I watched the national team consistently reach World Cup semi-finals and finals. There were always great successes that influenced me. And that’s the joy we want to give to children and to people at home. We simply failed to do so.” »

The Bayern Munich player himself embodied many of the Mannschaft’s struggles on Monday. Typically a central midfielder for his club, he was deployed in a hybrid role – not quite a central defender, not truly a right-back, and not a dedicated defensive midfielder. This tactical ambiguity completely destabilized the team, particularly the right flank, where Leroy Sané, performing at a concerning level, received virtually no support when cornered by opponents.

incomprehensible choices?

Against Paraguay’s tightly organized defensive block, the Germans were utterly ineffective. They created no clear chances in the first half, managed a header goal from Havertz after the break, and resorted to a few long balls and crosses into the box – and that was largely it. Orlando Gill, the South American goalkeeper, was rarely truly tested. Furthermore, the substitutions made by Julian Nagelsmann did little to alter the match’s trajectory.

The German coach, once hailed as a young prodigy upon his Bundesliga debut with Hoffenheim in 2016, is now under intense scrutiny across Germany. Criticism isn’t solely directed at the improbable outcome of the evening, with perplexing decisions such as introducing Goretzka at halftime or Woltemade at the very end of the match. More broadly, Nagelsmann’s selection of certain players for the trip to the United States, including Jonathan Tah, Leroy Sané, and even Manuel Neuer, has drawn significant flak.

After initially retiring from international duty, the Bayern goalkeeper reversed his decision in recent weeks, and Nagelsmann opted to include him in the squad. This was despite Neuer being 40 years old, having endured a challenging season with Bayern, and despite Oliver Baumann having performed convincingly in goal for Germany until that point. “Neuer was also part of the failures in 2018 and 2022, having been selected at the last minute,” a German football expert, Frank Hellman, had observed before the match. “It’s a big mistake to have brought him along.”

« “And it’s something that unsettled the group,” Hellman asserted. “While the Bayern players were in favor of his return to the national team, many others were far less so. Manuel Neuer wasn’t even among the top six goalkeepers in the Bundesliga this season. We won’t go far in the World Cup with him.” »

is julian nagelsmann’s job on the line?

Hellman’s foresight proved accurate, even though Manuel Neuer delivered a rather solid performance, making two fine saves and crucially stopping Paraguay’s fifth penalty, which briefly reignited hope. It was ultimately in vain. Beyond Neuer, Sané, or Tah, it is Nagelsmann’s own standing that is increasingly being questioned. Following the humiliation suffered in Boston, the coach was naturally asked about his future. His response was dismissive:

« “I am not one to run away. This is not the first time we have experienced this kind of tournament. There are things that need to change one way or another, but this is not the time to talk about it. If the Federation wants me to continue, I will continue. And if they don’t, they can tell me. I know how football works. There are probably many people who would like me not to continue.” »

However, Nagelsmann, who had a heated exchange with a German journalist after the match, did receive support from his captain, whom he also coached at Munich: “I think Germans need something to be proud of right now. Unfortunately, it’s not the national team. We, the players on the field, made mistakes and we take responsibility for them. It wasn’t the coach, it wasn’t the media, it wasn’t the referee, it wasn’t the opponent. It was us.” In any case, France (or Sweden, let’s not get ahead of ourselves) is certainly enjoying this turn of events.