Klopp fumes as VAR denies Germany goal vs Paraguay

Klopp furious – Jurgen Klopp reacted angrily after VAR ruled out Jonathan Tah’s extra-time header for Germany against Paraguay, deciding it involved a foul on goalkeeper Orlando Gill by substitute Waldemar Anton. Germany still lost their World Cup last-32 tie 4-3 on penalties

Germany’s World Cup last-32 dream ended in cruel fashion on Monday — and the moment it turned wasn’t only on the pitch.

After the match finished 1-1 following extra-time, Germany went out to Paraguay in a 4-3 penalty shootout. In extra-time, Germany believed it had taken the lead when centre back Jonathan Tah headed home from a corner. Instead, VAR intervened and ruled the goal out.

The decision was tied to a contentious foul involving Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill and Germany substitute Waldemar Anton. VAR determined Anton impeded Gill from Nathaniel Brown’s corner. Klopp made clear he disagreed with the ruling. describing it as brutal and pushing back on the idea that anything involving Arsenal could be relevant.

“‘If the goal is illegal. then Arsenal won’t be English champions. ’ Klopp told Magenta TV. ” framing his criticism around how often Arsenal have benefited from set pieces this season. He pointed to the Premier League title and recalled the record scoring from corners that helped Mikel Arteta’s side end a 22-year wait to win the English top-flight.

Arsenal finished that Premier League campaign with a record 19 goals from corners, a figure Klopp connected directly to the way the decision was reached in Germany’s match. “They’ve scored 60 per cent of their goals that way,” he said.

Klopp wasn’t just questioning the ruling — he was also reacting to the timing and weight of it. “We win the game when the ball goes in. So, of course, this is brutal.”

He added: “There are worse things than defeats in sports. But there was only one goal, one dream, and that has been shattered. It was dramatic.” He then returned to the broader reality of football outcomes, saying: “There are 500,000 ways to win a football match. You just have to find one.”

The anger around the decision didn’t stop with Klopp. Alan Shearer. speaking as a co-commentator for BBC Sport. labelled the VAR call “terrible.” His reasoning was blunt: “You have to understand it’s a contact sport. The goalkeeper has conned the referee and the VAR there. Yes, he touched him, but the way he went down was pathetic. In my view, the goal should’ve stood and it should no way have been overturned.”.

Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann agreed it leaned against what he expected from VAR. telling the BBC: “This is soft in my opinion. but judging by what we’ve seen in the tournament so far. it hasn’t surprised me that it’s been disallowed.” Cann referenced how the tournament has handled similar moments before. adding: “We’ve seen goals at this tournament disallowed for very small offences. but for me there’s not enough in it. There is a small block on the goalkeeper.”.

The sequence of facts has left Germany staring at a narrow line between defending contact and stopping an attack. Tah’s header was not the only part of extra-time that mattered — VAR’s interpretation of the tussle between Anton and Gill became the difference-maker in a match decided by penalties.

Jurgen Klopp VAR Germany vs Paraguay World Cup Jonathan Tah Waldemar Anton Orlando Gill Nathaniel Brown Alan Shearer Darren Cann Arsenal Mikel Arteta