Former Germany star Ilkay Gundogan had a lot to say about his home country’s performance in the World Cup’s Round of 32 on Monday, where they were knocked out of the tournament in a huge upset by Paraguay in penalty kicks.
Gundogan was especially upset with Jonathan Tah’s disallowed goal in extra time that would have sealed the match for the Germans.
“Today’s team performance definitely doesn’t need any sugarcoating…but what the hell was that VAR decision?” Gundogan lamented on his X account, translated from German.
“In the Premier League, they’d just give a weary smile over something like that – especially taking back a decision. Of course, it was brutally disappointing too. Unfortunately, we failed to convince over 120 minutes ourselves.”
Tah’s header in the 105th minute put Germany up 2-1 late in the match, but referees reversed the goal due to an apparent foul by defender Waldemar Anton on Paraguayan goalie Orlando Gill.
Gundogan wasn’t the only one who disagreed with the decision.
Ex-Premier League ref Graham Scott agreed that the goal should have stood.
“Goalkeeper Orlando Gill was briefly impeded by Waldemar Anton, but contact in such circumstances is commonplace…players are entitled to their space on the field, and getting in an opponent’s way is not an offense in itself,” Scott said.
Former England captain Alan Shearer was on the call for the Round of 32 match, and called the disallowing of the goal “soft.”
“Yes there’s contact, but it’s a contact sport,” Shearer said.
Paraguay ultimately ended Germany’s tournament early on penalty kicks.
It was a devastating blow for Germany, which have not made it past the first knockout round since they last won the World Cup in 2014.
