Former Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn shared his thoughts on the national team’s early exit from the 2026 World Cup. Julian Nagelsmann’s side was eliminated by Paraguay in a penalty shootout.
“One moment says more about this elimination than any statistic. When the penalty shootout went into sudden death, you could see Joshua Kimmich searching for players willing to take a penalty. To me, that was the most telling moment of this exit. At such a critical juncture, a top team doesn’t look for volunteers. It has players who demand the ball.
The ability to remain effective under immense pressure is no accident. It develops over years. Those who have never trained for this cannot suddenly master it in the national team setup. Germany has no shortage of talent. This squad has exceptional footballers. What they lack is the natural ability to take responsibility in the most crucial moments. Step up and take responsibility. Those who don’t may be protecting themselves from failure. At the same time, they miss the chance to make history.
Perhaps this is our biggest mistake. We admire the highest performance but are increasingly unwilling to pay the price it demands. We want world-class results with minimal pressure. Exceptional outcomes with minimal sacrifice. But that is not how elite performance is built.
We debate who should leave and hope for the next savior instead of asking why we keep repeating the same mistakes for years. We change faces and call it change. We avoid the main question: ‘Are we even willing to pay the price that top-level football has always demanded?’
The decisive moment doesn’t start in the national team. It begins much earlier, the moment a young player understands that responsibility is not something you can pass on but something you must take on yourself. Talent gets you to the World Cup. Responsibility determines how long you stay there,” Kahn asserted.
