Key facts
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz posted on X praising the German national team after their World Cup exit.
- Merz's initial post stated the team had "thrilled our country" with their commitment and team spirit.
- The chancellor's assessment was met with significant criticism.
- Comedian Oliver Pocher described the performance as "catastrophic" and "fundamentally wrong."
- Germany's captain Joshua Kimmich expressed disappointment and took responsibility for the team's failure.
- Merz later posted a second message emphasizing unity in both victory and defeat.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has drawn criticism for his reaction to Germany's World Cup exit, with his social media post on the platform X being described as confusing and out of touch with public sentiment. Merz initially wrote, "Even though going out hurts: what a game. With your commitment and team spirit at this World Cup you have thrilled our country. We are proud of you."
However, the chancellor's assessment was met with significant backlash in the comments section. Comedian Oliver Pocher criticized Merz's post, stating, "I hope the account has been hacked. But it fits the situation in this country." Pocher argued there was "nothing to sugar-coat" about the defeat, calling the performance "catastrophic" and suggesting that if the chancellor makes such a "fundamentally wrong analysis," it raises concerns about his judgment on other matters.
Germany's captain Joshua Kimmich echoed a more somber mood, stating, "We players who were out on the pitch messed this up... Unfortunately the national team is not that, and we all share responsibility for that." The international press also offered a less enthusiastic view, with Spanish sports paper Marca noting Germany's consecutive group stage exits and Italian daily La Gazetta dello Sport calling it "Flop Germany. Nagelsmann failure."
Merz's initial post on X, translated as "That was rubbish," garnered negative reactions. Approximately twelve hours later, following the widespread criticism, the chancellor posted again, writing, "We celebrate victories together. And in defeat we stand together. That is what makes us strong. Whoever wears the eagle on their chest deserves our backing and not our ridicule."