'Early exit from the Round of 32' — Germany's captain is different! "Not the coach, media, or referees' fault — it's our players' mistake"

*This content was translated by AI.

Joshua Kimmich (31, Bayern Munich), captain of the German national football team, demonstrated the dignity of a leader even amid the shock of an early exit, taking full responsibility for the defeat upon the team and himself.

On the 30th (Korean time), Germany suffered a shocking elimination in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America against Paraguay at Boston Stadium, losing in a penalty shootout.

Germany trailed 0-1 after conceding an early goal to Julio Enciso (Strasbourg) in the 42nd minute of the first half. They equalized in the 9th minute of the second half with a goal from Kai Havertz (Arsenal), but after 120 minutes of intense play, they were stopped by Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Hill's saves in the penalty shootout and fell 3-4.

As a result, Germany, which had advanced from the group stage to the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in 12 years since the 2014 Brazil World Cup, received a report card for the first time in its history: a World Cup knockout round defeat via penalty shootout.

Amid the worst atmosphere, the captain entered the mixed zone with his head bowed, and instead of excuses, painful self-criticism came first.

According to Fabrizio Romano, a European football transfer expert, Kimmich said in an interview immediately after the match, "It was none other than our players who ruined the game on the field," and "I fully accept all responsibility for the defeat," speaking with heavy resolve.

He then firmly shut down numerous excuses. Kimmich stated, "It is not the fault of the coach who devised the tactics, nor the fault of the media that stirred things up. Nor did we lose due to referee decisions or the opposing team," and added, "We simply failed," bowing his head.

This was a complete contrast to the behavior of some star players in the past who tried to evade responsibility whenever they were eliminated from major tournaments by citing external factors or controversial refereeing decisions. Although the match result was a crushing defeat, his remarks are interpreted as reflecting a heavy sense of responsibility as a team leader, ready to shoulder all criticism himself.

The German national team now faces significant technical and tactical challenges due to this elimination, but paradoxically, it has once again confirmed the value of a true leader like Kimmich. The captain's dignified interview, in which he admitted his own mistakes without excuses, offers a small measure of comfort to German football fans who are steeped in the feeling of defeat.

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*This content was translated by AI.