Klopp’s World Cup jibe: Arsenal’s set-piece reliance under fire again

Jürgen Klopp questioned the legitimacy of Arsenal’s set-piece success after Germany’s shock World Cup exit to Paraguay in the round of 32. Germany failed to reach the last-16 in any of the past three tournaments and last won a World Cup knockout game in the 2014 final in Rio de Janeiro. Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann, aged 38, became the youngest coach to manage a World Cup knockout-stage team in 40 years. He started Deniz Undav, the team’s top scorer in the tournament, for the first time in the match. Germany thought they had won in the 102nd minute when Jonathan Tah headed in a corner at the far post, but the goal was disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper following a lengthy VAR review. Kai Havertz, Nick Woltemade, and Jonathan Tah then failed to score in the penalty shootout, while José Canale kept his composure to seal Paraguay’s victory after two South American misses. Klopp told MagentaTV: “If the goal is illegal, then Arsenal won't be English champions. They’ve scored 60 per cent of their goals that way. We [Germany] win the game when the ball goes in. So of course, this is brutal.”

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Arsenal scored 25 set-piece goals in the Premier League last season, accounting for 35 per cent of their 71-goal total. Mikel Arteta’s side has faced repeated criticism for aggressive corner tactics, including crowding the opponent’s six-yard box. Arteta rejected claims of over-reliance on set-pieces, saying: “I am upset we haven’t scored more and that we have conceded [from set-pieces] as well. We want to be the best and most dominant team in every aspect of the game. That is the trajectory and the aim of this team.” Klopp, working as a pundit on German TV during the World Cup, drew attention after apologising to Nagelsmann for remarks made about his starting line-up in the group-stage win over Curaçao. The former Liverpool manager had suggested Nagelsmann’s choices were questionable despite the 7-1 victory.

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Klopp, appearing on Magenta TV in Houston, said: “Luckily, Julian Nagelsmann is picking the team, still.” Former Germany and Bayern Munich forward Thomas Müller, also on the broadcast, replied with laughter: “Kloppo, we are still in June. You are already in September.” The exchange highlighted ongoing debate over Nagelsmann’s future, with Klopp later clarifying his remarks. He said: “We’re also informally part of the team, we’re absolutely on your side. I’ve already discovered the most hated word of the year: still. I could have punched myself in the face for that, but it was already too late and I was on TV. It just slipped out casually, and has absolutely no relevance. What I’ve realised is, I’ll be 59 on Tuesday and I’m still an idiot.”