'We Fully Deserved It': Joshua Kimmich Delivers Brutally Honest Verdict After Germany's WC Exit

Published 30 June 2026 · india

'We Fully Deserved It': Joshua Kimmich Delivers Brutally Honest Verdict After Germany's WC Exit Published By, Last Updated: June 30, 2026, 11:59 IST Joshua Kimmich

'We Fully Deserved It': Joshua Kimmich Delivers Brutally Honest Verdict After Germany's WC Exit Published By, Last Updated: June 30, 2026, 11:59 IST Joshua Kimmich refused to make excuses after Germany's shock World Cup exit, admitting the four-time champions deserved to be eliminated and taking full responsibility. Rapid Read Germany skipper Joshua Kimmich (AP) Germany’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign ended in bitter disappointment, and Joshua Kimmich made no attempt to sugarcoat it. The four-time world champions crashed out in the Round of 32 after a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay following a 1-1 draw after extra time. It marked yet another underwhelming World Cup for one of football’s traditional powerhouses, with Germany failing to live up to the expectations that accompanied them into the tournament. Despite enjoying spells of possession, Germany never truly imposed themselves when it mattered.

They struggled to convert chances, lacked a clinical edge in the final third and ultimately paid the price from the penalty spot, missing three spot-kicks as Paraguay held their nerve to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the knockout stage. Kimmich Pulls No Punches Speaking after the defeat, Kimmich offered a brutally honest assessment of Germany’s performances throughout the tournament and admitted there were no excuses for the early exit. “It feels awful," Kimmich said in the mixed zone after the match. “We didn’t play well against any opponent. On three occasions we had major problems against teams that are not world-class. That’s a fact." The Bayern Munich midfielder went a step further, insisting Germany’s elimination was entirely deserved. “We fully deserved to be eliminated." ‘The Blame Isn’t On Anyone Else’ While teams often point to refereeing decisions, bad luck or outside circumstances after painful defeats, Kimmich refused to shift responsibility away from the dressing room.

“We’re playing here to make Germany proud. As a kid, I used to watch Germany always reaching the semi-finals, the finals. We couldn’t give that experience to the people watching us from home." “I think right now the people in Germany need something to be proud of, but unfortunately it’s not this national team. As players on the field, we messed up and we’re taking responsibility. The blame isn’t on the coach, not the media, not the referee, not the opponent. It was just us." Questions Ahead For Germany Germany’s latest World Cup disappointment continues a worrying trend for a nation that once defined consistency on football’s biggest stage. After another premature exit, serious questions are likely to be asked about the team’s direction, identity and ability to compete with the world’s elite. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Siddarth Sriram After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas.