Published on 6/30/2026
German newspapers and magazines harshly criticized the performance of the country’s national team due to its early exit from the World Cup for the third time, and held coach Julian Nagelsmann and the German Football Association responsible, then directed their anger at a tweet by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
No one expected that the criticism directed at the German national team after its early exit from the World Cup would be objective, focusing on the weaknesses and strengths of coach Julian Nagelsmann’s squad, but last night’s defeat was painful and deserves to be examined for its reasons in a rational manner.
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Also, no one expected the criticism to be this fierce after a tweet in which German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his pride in the performance of a team that German and international newspapers now consider one of the small teams in the world of football.
German newspapers and magazines described this early exclusion as new evidence of the decline of German football, and that the performance of the German Football Association is not worthy of the ambitions and history of the four-time world champion.
The young coach, Julian Nagelsmann, was not spared from these criticisms, which accused him of failing to employ the capabilities of young players and forming a team capable of competing. Nor did they absolve the German Football Association from responsibility due to a crisis in which sports commentators saw clear evidence of administrative failure.
We are not proud
Criticism spread throughout all German-language newspapers, but it is notable that the press of the great publisher Axel Springer, especially the newspapers Bild and Die Welt, were harsher than others in holding the national team and its coach accountable.
In an article entitled “Germany’s value depends only on success,” Die Welt newspaper editor-in-chief Ulf Boschart wrote, “Germany again bids farewell to the World Cup early, and the chancellor congratulated the team on this failure, saying, ‘We are proud of you.’ No, we are not, quite the opposite.”
Bushart added, “As if the shameful defeat was not enough to summarize what happened last night in Germany. For the third time in a row, after 2018 and 2022, the team bids farewell to the tournament painfully. Germany, which was known for its ambition, intelligence, and passion for winning, has today become a symbol of lackluster football performance… This country, or rather its model based on success, is no longer what it was, but there are those who try to embellish reality and turn a blind eye to it and continue to repeat slogans without directing criticism.” “Real.”
The writer criticized the team’s coach, Nagelsmann, but directed his anger at Chancellor Merz and his tweet in which he congratulated the team despite the loss, considering that a denial of failure.
The writer believes that the concept of “pride” – according to Meretz’s tweet – should only be linked to achievements such as winning a cup or economic and scientific excellence, and not to failure.
The writer concluded by saying that Germany has lost its image as a model country capable of inspiration and is no longer seen as a symbol of success, which may fuel – according to the article – the rise of extremist political forces due to public frustration with political reality.
The advisor exposes himself to ridicule
The daily newspaper Bild was harsher than its colleague Die Welt in commenting on Merez’s tweet, saying, “Is the German Chancellor serious?”, in reference to his congratulations to the national team after the defeat, adding, “Merez is exposing himself to ridicule because of the congratulatory post. Even the Kremlin is mocking him.”
Bild added that it is certain that many fans see the national team’s performance completely differently from the strange message that Mertz addressed to the national team’s stars on the X platform.
Meretz’s post raised widespread astonishment among the fans – according to Bild – and many wondered whether the chancellor had even watched the match? Because the team gave a dull and monotonous performance against Paraguay without any significant enthusiasm, which made the advisor’s talk about inspiration a subject of ridicule. Indeed, some observers outside Germany expressed their surprise at this positive assessment that Merz gave despite the poor performance.
Russian mockery of the Chancellor
Bild added, saying, “Even Kirill Dmitriev, who is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, mocked the chancellor by saying on the
The major elite newspaper, Frankfurter Allgemeine, was more objective in its view of yesterday’s defeat, and focused on the relationship between the coach, the team, and the German Football Association, saying that “Nagelsmann and the German Football Association (…) are a relationship that cannot be saved.”
The newspaper said, “The coach failed in this tournament because he greatly exaggerated his team’s potential and his personal capabilities, and when Nagelsmann says after the defeat that he wants to continue in his position as coach if the German Football Association wants, this is not true because the gesture of the federation’s representative Andreas Retting, who was sitting next to Nagelsmann at the press conference, was enough to understand the federation’s position on the coach remaining at his job.
Not a world class team
The newspaper did not hold Nagelsmann alone responsible, and said, “The coach is not the only one responsible for the third early exit in a row, just as two coaches before him, such as Joachim Loew and Hansi Flick, were not either. But Nagelsmann, like Flick, was forced to face the fact that Germany has lost its position as a major football power.
The coach was supposed to be the party leading the team, but Nagelsmann failed to do so, and nothing explains what happened more than the idea of relying on different formations according to the opponent’s capabilities, while in reality no formation truly succeeded against strong opponents.
The newspaper concluded by saying that Nagelsmann is a coach who thinks quickly and shows his feelings clearly and has made the style of leading the team emotionally an essential element of his method, which is one of the reasons why the Union’s leadership is so enthusiastic about him.
But what succeeded in the previous European Nations Championship in 2024, which was hosted by Germany, is no longer sufficient in the World Cup. Rather, it contributed to failure, perhaps because this emotional reserve was consumed or because the team did not benefit from the trust given to it by the coach, or because the players were no longer sure of the coach’s loyalty to them or even to himself.
