Germany controversially had a goal ruled out before their shock World Cup exit at the hands of Paraguay, but Jurgen Klopp feels the disallowed effort was like most of Arsenal’s goals.
In a stunning upset in the last 32 of the World Cup Paraguay beat Germany on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Boston.
Julio Enciso put the underdogs ahead shortly before half time, with Kai Havertz equalising on 54 minutes.
The South American side defended stoutly, but Germany were poor and failed to create many good chances over the piece.
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However, they did create a good chance in extra time and converted it as Jonathan Tah headed in what looked like it could have been the winner.
However, after a VAR intervention, the referee ruled it out, with Waldemar Anton adjudged to have fouled goalkeeper Orlando Gill.
There was certainly contact between the players but Gill looked to go down very easily in a crowded penalty area.
It seemed very harsh and Klopp certainly thought so, saying that 60 per cent of Arsenal’s goals are scored in the same manner.
‘If the goal is illegal, then Arsenal won’t be English champions,’ Klopp told MagentaTV. ‘They’ve scored 60 percent of their goals that way.
‘We win the game when the ball goes in. So, of course, this is brutal.’
Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann was also surprised the goal was ruled out, saying on the BBC as VAR intervened: ‘This is soft in my opinion. But judging by what we’ve seen in the tournament so far, it wouldn’t surprise me if they do rule it out.
‘We’ve seen two or three goals ruled out for very small offences. This is hardly anything, it’s a small block on the goalkeeper, but for me it’s not enough but I suspect they will be ruling this out.’
After the goal was chalked off there was great drama during the shootout, with Paraguay goalkeeper saving efforts from Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade.
There then seemed to be a dramatic twist as Antonio Sanabria and Fabian Balbuena both missed to level things up at 3-3.
Tah then was in the centre of things again as he blazed his effort over the bar and Jose Canale scored the winner.
It was the first time Germany had lost a penalty shootout at a World Cup and Klopp was surprised his country could not find a way to win the game.
‘There are worse things than defeats in sports. But there was only one goal, one dream, and that has been shattered. It was dramatic,’ he said.
‘There are 500,000 ways to win a football match. You just have to find one.’
Paraguay progress and will play France or Sweden in the last 16.