‘Extremely bitter’ – Germany icon, 40, immediately retires after shock World Cup penalty shootout exit to Paraguay

MANUEL NEUER immediately re-retired from international football after Germany’s shock World Cup exit to Paraguay. And he admitted: “It’s extremely bitter for it to end like this.” Neuer, 40, retired from Germany duty after Euro 2024. But he made a shock U-turn to appear for the DFB at this World Cup. However, the veteran goalkeeper hung his gloves back up again after Monday’s defeat. Germany lost 4-3 on penalties to Paraguay following a 1-1 draw after extra-time. READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP Neuer did save one crucial penalty to keep his side in the shootout but it proved to be in vain as Jonathan Tah blazed over and Jose Canale scored the winning penalty to dump the four-time winners out. And that proved his 128th and final national team appearance. Neuer failed to keep a clean sheet in any of the four matches at this tournament – and has not had a shutout on the global stage since the 2014 final. Julian Nagelsmann came under heavy criticism for parachuting Neuer in ahead of Oliver Baumann, who had been his No1 for two years. Most read in Football WORLD CUP 2026 FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS World Cup 2026 - all the info IT'S A KNOCKOUT The knockout stages of the World Cup are here, with many big sides still in the hunt for global glory. England manager Thomas Tuchel is hoping to finally bring football home after a 60-year drought for the nation. But powerhouse nations like France, Spain, Brazil and Germany are all serious contenders for the biggest prize in sport. Football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are showing no signs of slowing down, on what looks to be the pair’s final World Cup. LATEST NEWS - South Africa 0 Canada 1 – Stunning winner sends co-hosts through - Birthday boy Bellingham ready to conquer Congo in last-32 - Jesse Marsch has to be restrained after controversial penalty call - South Korea boss RESIGNS after group stage exit - Ronaldo DITCHES £242 limited edition boots after just 45 minutes KEY INFO - World Cup 2026 full match schedule including kick-off times - World Cup 2026 full squads - World Cup 2026 rule changes - World Cup 2026 prize money VIDEO - Proper Football Daily: Get all the expert analysis each morning - Team Talk – Tactics Exposed: Dive into the tactical talking points TIPS AND BETTING If you click a link in this article, we will earn affiliate revenue. But Baumann was forced to watch the entire campaign from the bench. And that included the 2-1 defeat to Ecuador. Germany had already sealed top spot in Group E before facing the South Americans. But Neuer – who is under contract at Bayern Munich for another year – was arguably at fault for both Ecuador goals at the MetLife last Thursday. Nilson Angulo scored from outside the box as the goalkeeper failed to get down to make the save. Then Gonzalo Plata grabbed the winner, toe-poking in from a flick on at a corner before Neuer could take the catch. In a tetchy mixed zone interview, Neuer bluntly refuted suggestions he was at fault for the winning goal. He simply snapped: “No.” Asked why he did not consider it a blunder, Neuer insisted he had “milliseconds” to make a move and explained: “Because it is a completely normal header flick-on and then I try to catch the ball. “Every goalkeeper who has ever played knows I have to position myself like that to try to catch it. “Of course, I don’t see him from behind at all. I have to look at where the ball is and what’s happening. “I just wanted to catch it. That would have been the safest solution. “If I start slapping the ball around in the six-yard box at chest height, then it might have been an own goal. So, absolutely not.”