Germany’s World Cup campaign came to a stunning end on Monday night, as Paraguay knocked out the four-time world champions 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
“‘Then Arsenal Won’t Be Champions!’ – Klopp Slams VAR Inconsistency After Germany Exit”
But the real controversy centred on a disallowed extra-time goal that could have sent Germany through and Jurgen Klopp used the moment to take a pointed swipe at Premier League winners Arsenal.
In the 101st minute at Gillette Stadium, defender Jonathan Tah rose at the back post to power home a header that would have given Germany a 2-1 lead.
The German players celebrated wildly, but VAR intervened. Referee Jalal Jayed reviewed the footage and ruled that Waldemar Anton had fouled Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill in the build-up.
The decision sparked immediate outrage. Former England captain Alan Shearer called it “pathetic,” insisting the goalkeeper had “conned the referee”.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann was shown a yellow card for his protests and later described the call as “a joke”.
Speaking on MagentaTV, Klopp now Red Bull’s Head of Global Soccer made his frustration clear by comparing the incident to Arsenal’s set-piece routines.
“If the goal is illegal, then Arsenal won’t be English champions,” Klopp said.
“They’ve scored 60 percent of their goals that way. We win the game when the ball goes in. So, of course, this is brutal.”
The former Liverpool manager was not criticising Arsenal directly. Instead, he was questioning the lack of consistency in how similar incidents are judged.
Klopp’s point is hard to dismiss. Arsenal have become one of the most dangerous set-piece teams in Europe, scoring 25 set-piece goals in the Premier League last season the highest in the division. Their clever blocking and movement have been a major factor in their title success.
But if Anton’s contact on Gill was enough to cancel a World Cup goal, Klopp argues, why are similar tactics allowed week after week in club football?
MagentaTV refereeing expert Patrick Ittrich agreed, saying the VAR intervention was unnecessary.
“For me, that is not a clear and obvious error,” he said. ZDF expert Thorsten Kinhöfer added he was “speechless”, calling it “normal contact and never a foul”.
Germany’s defeat is one of the biggest shocks of the tournament. Paraguay deserve credit for surviving the pressure and holding their nerve in the shootout.
But the controversy will not fade quickly. For Arsenal, Klopp’s comment is a reminder of how much attention their set-piece dominance now attracts.
And for football as a whole, the question remains: where is the line between clever blocking and a foul?
