Klinsmann: Shameful! We're in a deep hole! It's crazy Germany was unprepared for penalties

German legend Jürgen Klinsmann has launched a scathing attack on Julian Nagelsmann's squad. Following their bitter exit from the 2026 World Cup after a penalty shootout loss to Paraguay, the former Bundestrainer didn't hold back his criticism. The ex-striker for Stuttgart, Inter, Bayern Munich, Tottenham, and Monaco used strong words, describing the failure as "devastating and shameful."

"This is a very sad day for everyone in Germany. The way we were eliminated is a huge disappointment. The team wasn't prepared to take control over the 120 minutes. They lacked energy, weren't decisive enough, or aggressive enough to take on the fight against a very strong Paraguay side. In the end, it even looked as if the team hadn't prepared for this at all. For us Germans, this is crazy because we generally love penalty shootouts. The way we were knocked out today is devastating and shameful," Klinsmann told ESPN.

"The responsibility lies with everyone – from the coaching staff, through the federation, to every single player called up to that 26-man squad. Everyone contributed to this catastrophe. The team has definitely lost its identity. And what's next? Everything, from top to bottom, needs to be questioned and discussed. Of course, there will be consequences, whatever they may be. This elimination throws Germany into a deep hole," added the World and European champion with the 'Mannschaft'.