Liverpool fans reach same conclusion on Florian Wirtz as Germany crash out of World Cup

Liverpool fans have reached the same conclusion about midfielder Florian Wirtz after Germany were dumped out of the World Cup on penalties by Paraguay.

Julian Nagelsmann's side had progressed out of the group stage at a World Cup for the first time since they won it in 2014, and were favourites to beat Paraguay in Boston.

The South American nation finished third in Group D, having been beaten 4-0 by co-hosts United States followed by a narrow 1-0 win over Turkey and a 0-0 draw against Australia which sent them through.

Their last 32 tie against Germany ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, with former Brighton winger Julio Enciso putting them ahead on 42 minutes before Kai Havertz equalised with a header on 54 minutes.

Havertz then missed his opening penalty kick for Germany, with Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill saving from Newcastle's Nick Woltemade to give his nation the chance of victory.

Former West Ham defender Fabian Balbuena then missed what would have been the decisive spot kick if he'd scored, but Jonathan Tah blazed over the bar for Germany to allow defender Jose Canale to coolly slot his penalty into the corner of the net.

It was yet more World Cup anguish for the Germans, who technically didn't progress any further than in the previous two editions due to the change of format from 32 to 48 teams.

It will mean an early return to Anfield for Liverpool midfielder Wirtz, who ended his tournament with three assists to his name.

But there remain some concerns among Reds fans ahead of the beginning of pre-season under Andoni Iraola.

"He needs Iraola's coaching badly. Right now he's playing walking football," one wrote.

"Wirtz didn't play a bad game because he even left with an assist," another said. "The thing is that he needs to be more aggressive and have more personality. I hope Iraola brings out the best in him."

A third said: "Wirtz was good in moments but his decision making is poor."

A fourth wrote: "He is a very tidy footballer who we for some reason have paid £116m for. He is a very good player but doesn't really seem to have the ability to grab a game by the scruff of the neck."

While a fifth predicted: "Put runners in and around him and he will pick teams apart. Will be a different beast under Iraola."

Nagelsmann reacts to Germany World Cup exit

Despite another early departure from a World Cup for Germany, their head coach Nagelsmann says he will not resign from his role.

The 39-year-old, who has been in charge of the national team since 2023, says he will continue for as long as the German FA (DFB) want him to do so.

"I am not someone who runs away," he said. "This is not the first time this has happened, and there are some things about today that need to be changed.

"But if the DFB wants me to continue, I am going to continue. I know the mechanics of football. I know how the industry works - I know a lot of people will want me to leave, but I would love to continue if the DFB wants me to."

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been linked with potentially replacing Nagelsmann if the DFB do decide to make a change.

Speaking on Magenta TV, the German station he has been working for during the World Cup, Klopp said he has 'a job that I enjoy very much' as Head of Football at Red Bull - but didn't explicitly rule out taking the role either.

"I haven't thought about that [the German head coach role] yet," he stated. "I understand that, when the national team coach position is discussed, my name is mentioned in some form.

"But it's not the moment to really talk about it. There's nothing to say about it. I have a job that I enjoy very much. As far as I know, it's not a part-time job."