Manager Jurgen Klopp was furious after Germany conceded a decisive goal in the closing stages of the World Cup against Paraguay, insisting that if the decision was correct, Arsenal would have no right to win the Premier League. Germany suffered their first World Cup defeat in a penalty shootout as South American underdogs Paraguay pulled off the biggest upset in the tournament’s history in the Round of 32.
After Julio Enciso gave Paraguay an advantage in the first half, Julian Nagelsmann’s side fought back after the break and equalized through Kai Havertz’s goal. The Germans continued to attack, but Tarr headed home in stoppage time and seemed to have snatched victory.
However, a dramatic scene unfolded when referee Jalal Jade was called to the pitchside monitor to check for a minor foul on goalkeeper Orlando Gil.
Waldemar Anton was then adjudged to have interfered with the keeper’s attack, and the match went to penalties.
Gil emerged as the unlikeliest of heroes, saving two German penalties and sealing a stunning victory with Jose Canale converting the decisive kick.
The canceled goal sparked intense debate in the German media, with legendary Liverpool manager Klopp claiming he had seen Arsenal benefit from the same situation repeatedly on their way to winning the Premier League last season.
“Arsenal wouldn’t be champions of England if the goals were illegal. They score 60 per cent of their goals that way,” Klopp told MagentaTV.
“Germany wins the game as soon as the ball goes in, so of course this is cruel.”
He wasn’t the only one furious. Germany coach Nagelsmann, who himself received a warning for his violent protests, branded the ruling a “joke”.
Meanwhile, manager Alan Shearer said in commentary for the BBC: “I don’t agree with that decision at all. The keeper just touched it and fell to the ground, it was very soft. I thought it was a terrible decision.”
“You have to understand that this is a contact sport. The goalkeeper fooled the referee and the VAR. The way he went down was pathetic.”
