Germany crash out of World Cup to Paraguay in Round of 32

Germany are out of the 2026 World Cup, knocked out in the Round of 32 by Paraguay. The elimination confirms the worst fears from a group stage that had already drawn sharp criticism, with Gary Lineker calling Nagelsmann's side "one of the weakest teams I have seen" and a team that "lives off its past" (1). Germany had entered the knockout tie under pressure to deliver after losing to Ecuador in their final group match. The exit also ends German coaching interest in the tournament, with Thomas Tuchel's England still alive and Ralf Rangnick's Austria already eliminated by Spain (1).