Germany’s World Cup campaign came to a dramatic and painful end after Paraguay survived the tournament’s biggest shock due to a controversial VAR decision.
The four-time world champions were eliminated on penalties after a 1-1 draw, but much of the post-match discussion centered on Jonathan Tarr’s header which was disallowed in extra time.
The defender appeared to have scored Germany’s deciding goal, but VAR intervened and Waldemar Anton was ruled to have fouled Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gil.
The decision sparked huge debate, with manager Jurgen Klopp using the incident to draw sharp comparisons to Arsenal’s set-piece tactics.
The former Liverpool manager suggested on MagentaTV that Germany had been punished for something that is normally tolerated in club football.
Germany’s goal ban sparks debate at Arsenal
Klopp was clearly annoyed by the decision, especially as Germany appeared to have found a late route into the next round.
“If the goal is a foul, Arsenal will no longer be champions of England.” Klopp told MagentaTV, as reported by The Sun.
“They score 60 percent of their goals that way.
“We win the game as soon as the ball goes in, so of course this is brutal.”
His comments weren’t really an attack on Arsenal, but rather a complaint about their consistency.
Arsenal have become one of the most dangerous set-piece teams in Europe, using clever blocking, movement and delivery to create chances from corners and free-kicks.
Manager Klopp’s point was simple. If Anton’s contact with Gil was enough to cancel out Germany’s goal, similar set-piece situations should be judged the same way everywhere.
Klopp may have a point.
Manager Klopp’s frustration is understandable. The biggest issue with VAR is not necessarily the call itself, but the feeling that similar incidents are treated differently depending on the match, referee, or competition.
Arsenal’s set-piece strength should not be dismissed as illegal. Their routines are smart and well-coached, which is the main reason for their success.
But Klopp’s comparison highlights a bigger problem for football. It’s about where the line is between a smart block and a foul.
Germany will feel robbed as this goal could have changed everything.
On the other hand, Paraguay deserves praise for overcoming the pressure and winning the shootout. Still, this controversy isn’t going away anytime soon.
For Arsenal, Klopp’s comments are also a reminder of how much attention their set-piece dominance is currently receiving.
When a national team exit causes people to talk about your corner, it shows how influential that part of their game is.
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