German Media React After World Cup Humiliation, Call Team ‘Slow, Boring, Lethargic’

Germany’s shock World Cup exit at the hands of Paraguay has unleashed a wave of outrage across the country’s media, with newspapers delivering scathing verdicts on Julian Nagelsmann’s side and describing the elimination as another dark chapter in the nation’s football decline.

The four-time world champions crashed out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the round of 16, extending a dismal run that has seen Germany fail to progress beyond the last 16 in each of the past three tournaments. They have also not won a World Cup knockout match since lifting the trophy in Rio de Janeiro in 2014.

Nagelsmann, who at 38 became the youngest coach to lead a team in a World Cup knockout match in 40 years, had opted for an attack-minded line-up by handing tournament top scorer Deniz Undav his first start.

Germany believed they had snatched a dramatic winner in the 102nd minute when Jonathan Tah headed home from a corner, only for the goal to be ruled out after a lengthy VAR review for a foul on the goalkeeper.

The match eventually went to penalties, where Germany’s campaign unravelled completely as Kai Havertz, Nick Woltemade and Jonathan Tah all failed to convert, allowing Paraguay’s Jose Canale to seal a famous victory.

READ ALSO:

• NDC appeals court ruling voiding registration as INEC restores portal for candidate uploads
• Yoruba Movie Industry Mourns Veteran Actor, Elegbeje Ado
• FG Overhauls NYSC After 53 Years, Approves Civilian Leadership, Skills-Based Service Scheme

The country’s biggest-selling newspaper, Bild, described the display as a “disastrous performance,” saying Nagelsmann’s side produced “a truly awful performance for much of the game. Slow. Boring. Lethargic. It’s another German football nightmare.”

Die Zeit blamed Germany’s defeat on a “lack of imagination,” arguing that the team had lost all sense of its former greatness. Columnist Christian Spiller said the problems reflected the broader decline of German football beyond the dominance of Bayern Munich.

For Süddeutsche Zeitung, the latest elimination was even more humiliating than Germany’s group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup, insisting that, unlike in Qatar, there were no excuses this time because the team simply failed to find solutions when it mattered most.

Meanwhile, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung questioned whether Nagelsmann could continue in charge, describing his relationship with the national team as “beyond saving.”

Despite the widespread criticism, some observers felt Germany were hard done by over the controversial VAR decision that ruled out Tah’s extra-time goal.

Former Jürgen Klopp, working as a television pundit during the tournament, argued that similar goals had been routinely allowed in the Premier League.

“If the goal is illegal, then Arsenal won’t be English champions,” Klopp told MagentaTV. “They’ve scored 60 per cent of their goals that way. We win the game when the ball goes in. So, of course, this is brutal.”

German Media React After World Cup Humiliation, Call Team ‘Slow, Boring, Lethargic’

Morocco Knock Out Netherlands After Dramatic Penalty Shootout

Morocco produced a dramatic late comeback before defeating the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties to book their place in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup after a gripping 1-1 draw that stretched into extra time in Monterrey on Monday.

Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou emerged as Morocco’s hero, saving Crysencio Summerville’s decisive spot-kick before Ismael Saibari calmly converted the winning penalty to seal the Atlas Lions’ place in the knockout stage, where they will face Canada in Houston on Saturday.

The North Africans looked destined for elimination after Cody Gakpo gave the Dutch the lead midway through the second half, but Morocco snatched a dramatic equaliser in the first minute of stoppage time when Issa Diop rose unmarked to head home Chemsdine Talbi’s inviting cross.

The match then went into extra time, with both sides creating opportunities, but neither could find the breakthrough, leaving penalties to decide the contest.

READ ALSO:

• Troops Arrest Suspected ISWAP Operative Over Planned Attack on Military Bases in Borno
• Navy Leads Rescue as Building Collapse Traps Children, Others in Lagos
• Killing of MACBAN Chairman: ‘It Would Have Been Better to Kill the President, NSA’ — Fulani Man Threatens Benue Residents

Morocco had been the more threatening side for much of the game. Neil El Aynaoui came close to opening the scoring in the first half, only for Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to produce an excellent reflex save from his header. Verbruggen was called into action again moments later, tipping Achraf Hakimi’s powerful effort over the crossbar.

The fiercely contested encounter featured several crunching tackles, testing the patience of Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio. Saibari was fortunate to escape punishment after catching Jan Paul van Hecke with an elbow, while Van Hecke later required treatment after suffering a head injury in a collision.

The Netherlands dominated possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances. Their best first-half opportunity came through Micky van de Ven, whose thunderous long-range strike was brilliantly pushed over by Bounou.

The Dutch finally broke the deadlock after coach Ronald Koeman introduced Wout Weghorst following the second-half hydration break. The towering striker flicked on a long pass to Summerville, who squared for Gakpo to dive in and score. The Liverpool forward, who recently suffered the heartbreaking loss of his unborn child, was visibly emotional as teammates gathered around him in celebration.

With Virgil van Dijk marshalling the Dutch defence, the Netherlands appeared to be heading for victory until Diop’s stoppage-time header forced extra time.

Morocco almost completed the turnaround in the 96th minute, but Verbruggen produced another outstanding save to deny Soufiane Rahimi in a one-on-one situation.

The drama continued in the penalty shootout. Although Morocco missed their opening kick when El Aynaoui struck the crossbar, they recovered impressively. Bounou’s decisive save from Summerville handed Saibari the chance to win it, and the midfielder made no mistake, firing home to send Morocco into the last 16.

Morocco Knock Out Netherlands After Dramatic Penalty Shootout

Tobi Amusan wins Paris Diamond League title, equals season’s best with 12.28s

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan continued her remarkable resurgence on the global athletics stage by winning the women’s 100m hurdles at the Paris Diamond League, equalling her season’s best time of 12.28 seconds.

The victory marked another major milestone for the Nigerian sprint hurdler, who produced a brilliant late surge to defeat a strong field and strengthen her bid to reclaim the Diamond League title later this season.

Amusan, 28, crossed the finish line in 12.28 seconds, finishing ahead of American duo Grace Stark, who took second place in 12.38 seconds, and Alaysha Johnson, who settled for third in 12.39 seconds.

The reigning world record holder had to overcome an early challenge after Dutch hurdler Nadine Visser made the fastest start. However, Amusan displayed her trademark speed over the closing stages, reeling in Visser before pulling away comfortably to secure victory.

Sunday’s triumph was the third time Amusan has clocked 12.28 seconds this season, having posted the same time at both the Xiamen Diamond League and the Rabat Diamond League in May. The consistency highlights the Nigerian’s return to peak form after an impressive start to the 2026 campaign.

The Paris success also represents Amusan’s second Diamond League victory of the season, following her win in Rabat. Earlier this month, she also claimed top honours at the New Taipei City Athletics Open, extending her impressive winning streak ahead of the season’s major championships.

READ ALSO:

• Oshiomhole backs death penalty for kidnappers, bandits in Edo
• BREAKING: Gunmen Kill Teacher, Abduct Scores of Students in Borno School Attack
• UPDATED: Police Launch Massive Search After Terrorists Abduct NECO Students in Borno

Amusan began the year by securing a fourth consecutive African title, underlining her dominance on the continent before carrying that momentum onto the international circuit.

After a difficult 2025 season, the Nigerian star has responded with a series of outstanding performances, signalling that she is once again among the world’s leading sprint hurdlers.

The 2022 world champion remains the world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles after her historic 12.12-second run at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, a performance that made her the first Nigerian to win a World Championship gold medal in athletics.

Amusan is now firmly on course to qualify for the Diamond League Final, where she hopes to reclaim the title she won for three consecutive years between 2021 and 2023.

Her latest victory further boosts Nigeria’s hopes of another successful international athletics season as she prepares for the Commonwealth Games and other major competitions later this year.

The Paris Diamond League also witnessed several notable performances, including American sprinter Trayvon Bromell, who defeated Noah Lyles in the men’s 100 metres, while Swedish pole vault world record holder Armand Duplantis extended his dominance with another victory.

With her consistency improving and confidence growing, Amusan appears well-positioned to challenge for more international titles and add another Diamond League crown to her impressive career achievements.

Tobi Amusan wins Paris Diamond League title, equals season’s best with 12.28s