Julian Nagelsmann blasts Germany’s Paraguay exit after disallowed Tah goal

Julian Nagelsmann left no room for soft language after Germany's penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay. His anger centred on Jonathan Tah's extra-time effort, which VAR ruled out in the 102nd minute for a foul in the build-up. Germany then lost the shootout 1-1 after a 1-1 draw through extra time in Germany vs Paraguay.

The VAR flashpoint

Nagelsmann called the decision a scandal, then raised the temperature again. Speaking to goal.com, he said: “We then score a goal from the latter which is a scandal as the referee blows his whistle to disallow it. I have no idea what he saw there. It's truly a joke.” He added: “It's not just a scandal, it's an absolute scandal. That is not even remotely a foul play.”

The on-field detail matters because Germany had already spent long periods trying to force the game open. Nagelsmann said they had 11 or 12 corners before the disallowed goal, and six or seven players above 6ft 2in were on the pitch as they pushed for a breakthrough. That is a fairly clear picture of where the match had gone, Germany piling bodies into the box and still ending up at the mercy of a VAR call.

Germany's build-up and the wider pressure

There was more in Nagelsmann's comments than outrage at the decision itself. He admitted Germany had “a very slow build-up play”, saying it took ages to move the ball from wing to wing before they shifted into a more direct approach. The equaliser from Kai Havertz came only after Florian Wirtz supplied the assist, which says enough about how much they still needed one sharp moment to get through Paraguay.

The post-match debate is split between the decision and the performance. The decision is the flashpoint, but the slow circulation and the reliance on corners meant Germany were never exactly overwhelming. Nagelsmann's frustration is easy to understand, yet the way they had to chase the game also left them exposed when the tie tightened up.

Nagelsmann also pushed back against the idea that his future is already settled. He said he was available if the DFB wanted him to and ruled out walking away, which keeps the next stage of the discussion open. Jonathan Tah also missed one of Germany's penalties, so the exit was not caused by the disallowed goal alone, but that 102nd-minute call is the moment everyone will keep coming back to.