'A joke' - how a 'terrible' VAR disallowed goal cost Germany

This video can not be played 'Terrible decision' - Germany have goal controversially disallowed by VAR Germany thought their blushes had been spared when defender Jonathan Tah rose highest to head his side into a 2-1 lead in the 12th minute of extra time of their World Cup tie with Paraguay, only for the video assistant referee (VAR) to intervene. The unmarked Tah rose at the back post and powered a header across Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill, but the effort was chalked off after what former England captain Alan Shearer called a "pathetic" incident seconds before. As the corner was swung in, Germany's Waldemar Anton was judged to have impeded Gill, as the goalkeeper fell to the turf before getting up and attempting to make the save from Tah's header. But after referee Jalal Jayed made his way over to the pitchside monitor at the recommendation of the VAR and ruled the goal out, Shearer said on BBC One the Paraguayan had "conned the referee". Shearer insisted: "I don't agree with that decision at all. The keeper falls to the ground on a slight touch and it's very soft. I thought it was a terrible decision. "You have to understand it is a contact sport, the goalkeeper has conned the referee and the VAR. The way he went down was pathetic." And after Paraguay triumphed 4-3 on penalties following the 1-1 draw, Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann was left fuming at the disallowed goal. He said: "In my opinion, this foul was not a real foul; it was actually a joke that his goal was disallowed." Nagelsmann was shown a yellow card for his protests as the effort was ruled out, while his future remains unclear. The end for Nagelsmann? Germany suffer their 'next football nightmare' Inside Paraguay's tears of joy over their seismic World Cup shock 45 minutes from Brazil 'humiliation' - but 'Crafty Carlo' does it again This video can not be played Paraguay stun Germany on penalties to reach last 16 Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, working for German television during the World Cup, likened Tah's disallowed goal to many which Premier League champions Arsenal had scored throughout the season. Klopp told MagentaTV: "If the goal is illegal, then Arsenal won't be English champions. They've scored 60% of their goals that way. "We [Germany] win the game when the ball goes in. So, of course, this is brutal." As the game restarted, former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann shared his views on the decision. "This is soft, in my opinion," Cann said on BBC One. "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. I suspect they will be ruling this out. We feel this should not be disallowed." Ex-Scotland winger Pat Nevin, in Boston for BBC Radio 5 Live, also believed the apparent foul was not clear enough to rule the goal out. He said: "It is mayhem around there. There is a block - has it affected the goalkeeper? It looks like it. "It is a subjective call. That is not clear." Sorry, this vote cannot be loaded. In order to vote you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Play BBC Sport's World Cup predictor game World Cup 2026 knockout path How to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITV