"Shocking location choice": German player Leon Goretzka mistakenly boarded Ecuador's bus after a shocking defeat... Angry German fans mock: "Did he abandon his country?"

*This content was translated by AI.

Leon Goretzka (31, Bayern Munich), a midfielder for the German national football team, made the mistake of boarding the wrong bus immediately after a shocking defeat against Ecuador.

The British outlet "The Sun" reported on the 27th (Korea time) that "Goretzka boarded the wrong bus after the match and suffered embarrassment."

Germany suffered a 1-2 defeat to Ecuador in the final Group E match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers held the previous day at the New Jersey Stadium in New York, USA.

The media reported that "Goretzka, who sat on the bench that day, climbed onto the steps of the Ecuadorian national team's bus in the parking lot after the match. He immediately realized his mistake, turned back, and headed toward the German bus parked nearby."

Some German fans did not miss the opportunity to mock Goretzka's mistake. According to the media, reactions on social media (SNS) included comments such as "He doesn't even know which team is his," "He must have wanted to go with the winning team," and "We'll be laughing at this incident until the next World Cup."

Another netizen pointedly called it a "shocking location choice," while another reaction suggested, "He tried to disguise himself as an Ecuadorian player out of shame over Germany's defeat."

Goretzka is currently struggling to secure a starting position in this tournament. He played a total of 22 minutes, appearing for 17 minutes in the 7-1 victory against Curaçao and 5 minutes in the 2-1 win over Côte d'Ivoire.

The media stated, "Goretzka's performance in this World Cup contrasts sharply with his club form. He started in 25 of 34 Bundesliga matches under manager Vincent Kompany's leadership in the 2025-2026 season, leading Munich to the league title. Although he is a veteran with 72 caps for the German national team, this tournament has not been easy for him."

Meanwhile, Germany, led by manager Julian Nagelsmann, finished first in Group E with two wins and one loss (6 points), advancing to the Round of 32 and awaiting their next opponent.

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*This content was translated by AI.