ไทย
English
中國人
Four-time champion Germany has been eliminated from the 2026 World Cup, crashing out in the round of 32 to add yet another painful chapter to its troubled recent history.
Germany could only manage a 1–1 stalemate on Monday evening after 120 minutes against a modest yet tenacious Paraguay side that defended with everything it had. What followed was a stunning shock, as Paraguay handed Germany its first-ever penalty shootout defeat in tournament history, shattering its 2026 World Cup aspirations.
The crushing loss extends Germany's already dreadful recent World Cup record. Since claiming a fourth star at Brazil 2014, Die Mannschaft has failed to win a single knockout match across three consecutive World Cup tournaments.
After comfortably dispatching Curaçao in their tournament opener, Julian Nagelsmann's squad looked alarmingly unconvincing, suffering a 2–1 defeat to Ecuador in the group stage finale. Paraguay then showed Germany the exit door, cementing 12 consecutive years of World Cup failure.
Germany's Catastrophic Recent World Cup Record
Monday's heartbreak was far from a new experience for Germany. Ever since lifting the trophy against Argentina in the 2014 final, it has been relentless misery for Die Mannschaft on the world stage.
It began at Russia 2018. Germany fell to Mexico in their tournament opener. Toni Kroos's stunning late goal was enough to edge past Sweden, but a shocking loss to South Korea saw Germany crash out in the group stage as defending champions.
Four years on, Germany lost its opening match against Japan before settling for a draw with Spain. A victory over Costa Rica followed, but it counted for nothing, as Hansi Flick's men once again exited in the group stage on goal difference.
Victories over Curaçao and Côte d'Ivoire had many believing Germany could be genuine contenders in 2026. However, the defeat to Ecuador in the group stage finale revealed deep flaws, and Paraguay ultimately buried Die Mannschaft in the round of 32.
Germany must now wait another four years to attempt to recapture its World Cup identity. By the time the 2030 World Cup arrives, 16 long years will have elapsed since their last knockout victory.
Germany Joins Unwanted Club Of European World Cup Champions
Between 1954 and 2014, Germany reached the World Cup semifinals in 12 of their 16 appearances, reaching at least the quarterfinals in the remaining four. They have now failed to advance beyond the group stage in three straight World Cup tournaments — a truly staggering decline.
Yet Germany is not alone in enduring a nightmare run following a title triumph. Fellow four-time champion Italy hasn't won — let alone played in — a knockout match since lifting the World Cup in 2006 nearly two decades ago, having failed to qualify for the last three tournaments altogether.
Likewise, Spain has not won a single knockout match since claiming their first World Cup title in 2010. La Roja will look to end that 16-year drought when they face Austria on Thursday.
SI answers is our AI answer engine trained on human-created content.
Germany, a nation boasting 68 victories in 112 all-time World Cup appearances — the second most successful country in the tournament's history — has won just four of its last 10 matches.
The World Cup was once a stage where Germany thrived, but it has since become a source of recurring disappointment.