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Germany Eliminated by Paraguay; Merz’s Tweet Misfire Sparks Outcry

7/1/2026

47 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Germany lost to Paraguay on penalties in the round of 32, ending its knockout appearance in 12 years.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz posted a tweet that his office later called a communications error releasing the wrong message.
Bild’s Marion Horn called the performance a disaster while Die Welt ran the headline “Germany isn’t Germany anymore.”
Opposition MP Christian Goerke (Die Linke) mocked the tweet and tied it to Merz’s paid-leave crackdown.

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Story summary

Germany lost to Paraguay on penalties in the round of 32, ending its knockout appearance in 12 years.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz posted a tweet that his office later called a communications error releasing the wrong message.
Bild’s Marion Horn called the performance a disaster while Die Welt ran the headline “Germany isn’t Germany anymore.”
Opposition MP Christian Goerke (Die Linke) mocked the tweet and tied it to Merz’s paid-leave crackdown.