Germany's World Cup Exit Sparks Outrage as Chancellor Merz's "Proud of the Team" Remark Draws Criticism

BERLIN (CNA) -- Following Germany's shocking elimination from the World Cup by Paraguay in the Round of 32, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's social media post expressing pride in the national team has ignited a firestorm of criticism from fans, media, and opposition politicians, who questioned, "Which game was he watching?"

The German national team faced Paraguay in Foxborough, Massachusetts, early this morning (Taiwan time) for a spot in the Round of 16. After 120 minutes of intense play, they were ultimately defeated by Paraguay in a penalty shootout, unexpectedly exiting the tournament at the Round of 32 stage. Post-match, head coach Julian Nagelsmann faced widespread criticism from German media and commentators.

In an interview with German media, German national team captain Joshua Kimmich admitted to the team's failure, stating that Germany is currently in a period that requires unity and positive energy. "If there were something the nation could be proud of, it would be very helpful for Germany. Unfortunately, the national team is not that thing right now."

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also posted on social media shortly after the match, saying, "Although the elimination is heartbreaking, it was a brilliant game." He praised the team's fighting spirit and teamwork displayed in this World Cup, stating they "inspired our nation," and concluded the post with "We are proud of you."

However, Merz's positive assessment of the national team stood in stark contrast to the general public's sentiment, quickly sparking heated debate on social media. "Which game was the Chancellor watching?" briefly became a trending topic in Germany on X, with some netizens sarcastically remarking that Merz's move was akin to how he handles political issues, always framing failures as successes.

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, a Member of the European Parliament for the Free Democratic Party (FDP), posted on X, "I don't know what's worse, the game or the Chancellor's analysis."

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) also joined the criticism, accusing Merz of "sugarcoating failure" and being "out of touch with reality," respectively.

In response to the opposition's attacks and the public's dissatisfaction, Merz later posted again on social media, stating, "When we celebrate success, we celebrate together; when we face failure, we stand together, and that is precisely why we become stronger."

Merz further emphasized that any player who wears the German jersey and the federal eagle on their chest "deserves our support, not our ridicule," reiterating his support for the national team as the nation's Chancellor. (Editor: Chen Cheng-kung) 1150630

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