Following Germany's exit from the FIFA World Cup, captain Joshua Kimmich has emphasized that the team should not blame external factors like VAR or the referee for their defeat. Germany was eliminated by Paraguay in a penalty shootout after a disallowed goal from Jonathan Tah, which sparked significant controversy. However, Kimmich stated that the team's lack of performance was the primary reason for their early exit.

Kimmich's Stance on Blame

In a post-match interview, Kimmich asserted, "Nobody should blame the referee or bad luck in the shootout for this loss. If you can't beat a team in 120 minutes, you absolutely deserve to go home." He expressed disappointment that the team did not demonstrate the quality needed to secure a victory against Paraguay, a team that barely advanced as one of the best third-placed teams in the group stage.

Reflections on Germany's Decline

Kimmich conveyed that this defeat was particularly painful, even more so than their previous group stage exit at the Qatar World Cup. He described Germany's current struggles as "unbearable," recalling a time when the national team consistently reached the semi-finals and finals. He acknowledged that for the past eight years, they have failed to provide their fans with positive results. "As captain, I take full responsibility for this failure. I won't try to save myself by blaming someone else," Kimmich stated, highlighting his accountability for the team's performance.

This latest setback marks the third consecutive World Cup where Germany has failed to progress beyond the first knockout stage, raising questions about the future of the team and its management.