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# Jurgen Klopp told 'can't do that' as German hero hits back at World Cup critics

- **Source:** 
- **Published:** 17 Jun
- **Club:** Liverpool
- **Original URL:** https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jurgen-klopp-world-cup-germany-34137301

The 59-year-old was joined by former Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller for Magenta Sport's coverage of Germany's World Cup opener against Curacao. “Luckily, it’s Julian Nagelsmann who’s picking the team," Klopp said while discussing the starting XI before adding “for now”.

Fellow pundit Muller burst out laughing but Effenberg - who won the Champions League with Bayern and reached the Euro 92 final with Germany - didn't see things the same way. “That’s not right; he’s speaking to millions of viewers. And on top of that, he ended up bursting out laughing,” he said on Sport1.

Effenberg added: “A comment like that, you can make it over a beer in the pub, but certainly not in front of millions of viewers. It’s unacceptable.”

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Muller didn't sit back and accept the criticism, though. “Our conversations are lively,” said the Vancouver Whitecaps star, who quit international football in 2024.

“Our main aim is to convey our enthusiasm. We’re huge fans of the German team. We discuss tactics and the game itself objectively.

"But who could hold it against us? There’s always a bit of banter in what we say, and we’re not about to change our personalities any time soon.”

Klopp, for his part, issued an apology on Monday. “I’m here in the United States as a consultant, not as a journalist. That’s why I don’t need to be neutral all the time," he said.

"But looking back, I think I could have given myself a slap. It just slipped out without thinking, but it shouldn’t have any repercussions for anyone. Julian, I apologise. In any case, I’m turning 59 on Tuesday, and I have to admit I’m still an idiot.”

Nagelsmann's team selection did the business regardless, surviving a scare against Curacao before running out 7-1 winners. Matches against Cote d'Ivoire and Ecuador await, with the top team in Group E going on to face a third-place finisher in the round of 32.

If Germany end up going through as group runners-up, it would mean a match against the second-placed team in Group I. Norway and France sit first and second respectively in that group after the first round of matches, following victories over Iraq and Senegal respectively.