"Jurgen Klopp, take over! Germany needs you now!" That's not a fan chant — that's BILD, Germany's most-read newspaper, publishing a full editorial demanding the ex-Liverpool manager rescue the national team after a 5-4 penalty defeat to Paraguay sent Die Mannschaft crashing out in the Round of 32.
It's Germany's third consecutive World Cup without making it past the knockout rounds. 2018: group stage exit under Löw. 2022: group stage exit under Flick. Now 2025: Round of 32 under Nagelsmann. That is a pattern, not a blip.
The knives are out for Nagelsmann
The German press didn't wait long. BILD called Nagelsmann "petulant, defiant, and know-it-all" and accused him of failing to build any kind of cohesive unit. Focus Online noted the cold historical fact that Germany had never previously lost a World Cup penalty shootout. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung went further: "He grossly overestimated his team and his own abilities." Der Spiegel said the country "deserved their downfall."
Nagelsmann's contract runs until 2028, but the DFB is being told in no uncertain terms that honoring it would be a mistake. The editorial consensus across German media is that the status quo isn't survivable.
Nagelsmann, for his part, isn't going quietly. "I am not someone who runs away," he said after the defeat. "If the DFB wants me to continue, I am going to continue." Whether the DFB shares that appetite is another question entirely.
Klopp stays diplomatic — for now
Klopp was working as a pundit for German television at the tournament when the Paraguay result landed. Asked about his name being thrown into the conversation, he chose his words carefully: "I haven't thought about that yet. I understand that my name is being mentioned now. But it's not the time to talk about that."
He didn't say no. That matters.
The 59-year-old is currently Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull — a role he's described as fulfilling — but has previously acknowledged he could see himself returning to management one day. The Germany job would be the biggest call of his life. He won the Bundesliga with Dortmund when nobody expected it, then ended Liverpool's 30-year wait for a league title. Both times, he walked into chaos and built something.
- BILD, Welt, Focus Online, and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung have all explicitly called for Klopp to replace Nagelsmann
- Germany have not progressed past the Round of 32 in any of their last three World Cup appearances
- Nagelsmann's deal runs to 2028, meaning any departure would come at a cost to the DFB
- Klopp is under contract with Red Bull and has not confirmed any interest in the role
The DFB has a decision to make, and pressure from every major outlet in the country is hard to ignore for long. Nagelsmann says he wants to stay. Klopp says it's not the time to talk. But Germany's patience, clearly, has run out.
