Germany’s shock World Cup exit has sparked a national reckoning, with questions about the country’s declining fortunes.

Germany’s unexpected elimination from the World Cup in the Round of 16 has left the nation in collective despair. The silence on the streets on Monday night was deafening—no cheers, no car parades, just a somber acknowledgment of the loss. ESPN declared, ‘It’s official: Germany are no longer a soccer superpower,’ as the dream of a ‘Summer Fairytale 2.0’ came to an abrupt end.

The fallout extended beyond the pitch. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s optimistic post-match comments—’What a game! We are proud of you’—sparked ridicule online, with the phrase ‘Which game?’ trending on social media. Critics accused him of sugarcoating the situation. Meanwhile, experts like psychologist Stephan Grünewald warned that the loss reflects deeper societal struggles, as Germany grapples with economic woes, political instability, and a fading sense of national confidence. ‘We are in the valley of tears,’ said political scientist Jürgen Falter, summing up the nation’s mood.