Jurgen Klopp criticised a VAR decision that disallowed Jonathan Tah’s extra-time header after Waldemar Anton was ruled to have impeded goalkeeper Orlando Gill in Germany’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 loss to Paraguay. Klopp also mocked Arsenal’s reliance on set-pieces. Germany exited early as Paraguay advanced on penalties in a major upset marked by controversy and ranking gap.

Berlin: Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, while speaking to German broadcaster Magenta TV, questioned the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decision that ruled out Jonathan Tah's extra-time goal during Germany's FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 defeat to Paraguay.

Speaking to MagentaTV after Germany's elimination, Klopp criticised the VAR decision and took a dig at reigning Premier League champions Arsenal, suggesting that if Tah's goal was illegal, many of Arsenal's set-piece goals would also have been ruled out.

"If the goal is illegal, then Arsenal won't be English champions. They've scored 60 per cent of their goals that way," Klopp told MagentaTV.

Germany thought they had secured a place in the Round of 16 when Tah headed home from a corner in the 101st minute of extra time. However, following a VAR review, referee Jalal Jayed disallowed the goal after ruling that Germany defender Waldemar Anton had impeded Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill in the build-up.