Leon Goretzka’s limited World Cup role sparks criticism of German team

Leon Goretzka played only 17 minutes against Curaçao, five minutes versus Ivory Coast and 74 minutes in the knockout loss to Paraguay at the 2026 World Cup, failing to register a goal or an assist. After the tournament, reports in Sport Bild alleged that he struggled with being benched, showed “bad mood” on the training ground and even ducked away when captain Joshua Kimmich asked him during the decisive penalty shoot‑out.

Former Germany captain Lothar Matthäus expressed sympathy, saying, “It’s a pity for Leon that he felt the way he did… It reflects the team management under Julian Nagelsmann.” Rudi Völler also commented on broader team issues, noting that multiple family visits and “hiding games” during training may have disrupted squad cohesion. The debate has intensified about the DFB’s handling of the World Cup campaign and the internal dynamics that may have contributed to Germany’s early exit.