Florian Wirtz has come under heavy fire for his lacklustre performance after Germany’s shocking World Cup exit at the hands of Paraguay in Boston.
Alan Shearer analysed the Liverpool midfielder’s performance and named the Reds star as one of the players who failed after Julian Nagelsmann’s team were eliminated by their South American opponents.
Julio Enciso gave Paraguay, which is placed 41st in FIFA’s world rankings, the lead in the first half, but Wirtz’s inviting cross for Germany was nodded home by Arsenal attacker, Kai Havertz.
Jonathan Tah thought he had won for the 2014 world champions, but his goal was controversially disallowed because VAR officials thought Orlando Gill, the goalkeeper, had been impeded minutes earlier.
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Both Havertz and Newcastle attacker Nick Woltemade had their spot-kicks saved by Gill as the match went to penalties. Two opportunities to complete the victory were given to Paraguay, but Antonio Sanabria and Fabian Balbuena wasted their 12-yard attempts.
Even with a third reprieve, though, Tah shot over, allowing Jose Canale to win it for Paraguay 4-3 on penalties and secure a historic victory.
Shearer Criticizes Wirtz And His German Teammates
Speaking on Netflix programme The Rest is Football as quoted by Liverpool FC, Shearer condemned Wirtz, who amid his assist failed to lay down his mark during the crucial moments.
“They’ve got the quality in names and on paper, but they just didn’t deliver,” the England icon said.
“You look at [Leroy] Sane, not a great season. [Denis] Undav they had to bring in to try and give them some oomph in and around the penalty area. Wirtz has had a terrible season at Liverpool, he hasn’t performed again at this World Cup.
“So it’s alright saying they’ve got the quality, but the quality wasn’t there. We’ve seen them put seven past Curacao, well that’s alright – but when it really mattered, the quality wasn’t there at all.”
