FIFA World Cup 2026: "We feel used and cheated" Thomas Muller slams VAR after Germany exit
Berlin, June 30
Thomas Muller, while speaking to German broadcaster Magenta TV, slammed the Video Assistant Referee after Jonathan Tah's extra-time goal was disallowed in Germany's dramatic Round of 32 defeat to Paraguay at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
A controversial VAR decision that ruled out Germany's potential extra-time winner proved decisive as Paraguay stunned four-time champions Germany in a penalty shootout to book their place in the Round of 16, The Athletic reported.
Germany believed they had secured the win in the 101st minute when Jonathan Tah headed home from a corner. However, after German players celebrated the goal, referee Jalal Jayed of Morocco was instructed to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor following a VAR intervention, according to The Athletic.
After the incident, speaking to German broadcaster Magenta TV after the match, Muller questioned the decision to overturn what he believed was a legitimate goal, arguing that the intervention cost Germany a place in the Round of 16.
"I honestly don't know what VAR is looking at anymore. What a call is that? The goalkeeper must be the luckiest player on the pitch because, from everything I've seen, Germany have scored a perfectly legitimate goal. Jonathan Tah attacked the ball brilliantly, won it fairly and finished with authority. That's football. That should never have been taken away," Muller said.
The goal, scored by Tah in the 101st minute of extra time, was overturned after a VAR review determined that Germany defender Waldemar Anton had impeded Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill during the build-up.
Muller said Germany felt unfairly treated by the decision.
"We, the Germans, feel used and cheated. This is wrong. This is daylight robbery on the biggest stage in football. If that's a foul, then football has completely lost its consistency because we've seen far stronger challenges allowed all tournament. The referee and VAR have searched for something that simply isn't there," he said.
The former footballer also expressed sympathy for the players, saying the decision erased a defining World Cup moment.
"You work your whole life to play at a World Cup, you fight for every ball, you finally score what could be the winning goal, and then someone sitting in a room hundreds of metres away decides to erase that moment over a decision that millions of people will disagree with. That's heartbreaking for every player on that pitch," Muller told the German broadcaster.
He added that while defeats are part of football, he could not accept losing because of what he described as an incomprehensible interpretation of the rules.
"I can accept losing to the better team. I can accept missing chances. But I cannot accept having a perfectly good goal taken away because of an interpretation that nobody understands. Germany deserve better than this, and football deserves better than this. Right now, it feels like we've been punished by technology instead of protected by it," Muller said.
The defeat marked Germany's earliest exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026, while Paraguay progressed to the Round of 16 after a memorable night defined by VAR controversy, defensive resilience and clinical finishing from the penalty spot.
It was also only their second defeat on penalties at a major international tournament, the first coming against Czechoslovakia in the 1976 UEFA European Championship final (5-3), as per OptaJoe.
The result also ranks among the biggest knockout upsets in modern World Cup history. Germany entered the tournament ranked 10th in the FIFA World Rankings, while Paraguay were 41st, a gap of 31 places.
Since 1994, only three World Cup knockout eliminations have featured a larger rankings disparity: Spain's defeat to Russia in 2018 (60 places), Italy's loss to South Korea in 2002 (34 places), and Spain's quarter-final exit to South Korea in 2002 (32 places).
— ANI
Reader Comments
I support India in football, but even I feel for Muller. That goal looked perfectly fine to me - the defender was just contesting for the ball, not fouling the keeper. Technology should assist, not override the human element of the game.
Having watched the replays multiple times, I think there's a case for both sides. Yes, Anton did make contact with the Paraguayan keeper, but in the context of modern football, that's rarely called a foul. Consistency is what's missing. Also, as someone who follows Indian Super League, I've seen our refs make worse VAR calls.
Bro, Muller is absolutely right! Football is losing its soul with these micro-decisions. When I watch my local Delhi club matches, they don't have VAR and somehow manage fine. The beautiful game is becoming a technical nightmare. 😤
Honestly, I think people are overreacting. The defender clearly blocked the goalkeeper's path to the ball. It's a fair call according to the laws of the game. Germany should have scored from open play instead of relying on set pieces. Better luck next time. 🇵🇾
From a neutral perspective, this is heartbreaking for Germany but people forget that VAR exists to correct clear and obvious errors. The referee on the monitor gave it, so maybe it was more than just a normal challenge. Either way, a tournament needs these moments to be memorable. India will host something one day and we'll have our own VAR drama! 🤞
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