▲ German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (left) on a video call with the national football team
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing a wave of public criticism after he attempted to console the national football team following their elimination from the North and Central America World Cup, calling it a "great game."
After Germany was knocked out of the Round of 32 following a 3-4 penalty shootout loss to Paraguay on June 29 (local time), Chancellor Merz wrote on the social media platform X, "DFB (German Football Association) team! It is a shame to be eliminated, but it was truly a great game. The fighting spirit and teamwork shown in this World Cup have moved the entire country."
The post received over 10,000 comments in about 10 hours.
Most of the comments mocked both the Chancellor and the team, with remarks such as, "I don't know what game you were watching. You are already quite famous for your cognitive impairment," "Your eye for football is as poor as your politics," "The national team is a perfect match for the Chancellor," and "German football accurately reflects the reality of this country."
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, a member of the European Parliament from the opposition Free Democratic Party (FDP), criticized the Chancellor, saying, "I don't know which is worse, the game or this analysis." She added, "There was no ambition, no ideas, and in the end, they were helpless. The national team plays just like the federal government."
The daily newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) pointed out that "Merz's post was surprising," adding, "It is questionable whether he actually watched the game."
As the comments poured in, Chancellor Merz posted again on June 30, stating, "We celebrate victories together and we stand together in defeat. The players who wear the eagle (national symbol) on their chests deserve support, not criticism."
The Associated Press commented on the reaction to the team's early exit and the Chancellor's post, noting that "schadenfreude is spreading."
Germany, ranked 10th by FIFA, had advanced to the Round of 32 as the top team in Group E, which included lower-ranked opponents.
However, after showing poor performance, including a 1-2 loss to Ecuador in the final group stage match, they were ultimately eliminated by Paraguay, ranked 41st by FIFA.
After winning their fourth title at the 2014 Brazil World Cup, Germany was eliminated in the group stage in both the 2018 Russia and 2022 Qatar tournaments.
Manager Julian Nagelsmann had stated that the goal was to win a fifth title.
However, with the team's performance in a downward trend over the past decade, the prevailing assessment was that they were not objectively considered favorites to win.
Chancellor Merz has seen his approval ratings plummet just over a year into his term, making him the most unpopular chancellor in history, surpassing his predecessor Olaf Scholz.
Manager Nagelsmann sparked several controversies regarding player selection, including naming 40-year-old goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), who had retired from the national team, to the roster just before the tournament.
Immediately after the elimination in the Round of 32, he said, "I will not resign. If the German Football Association does not want me, then I will leave."
In Germany, former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is already being mentioned as a potential successor.
(Photo: X @bundeskanzler, Yonhap News)
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