Neuer: It's Extremely Painful for My International Career to End This Way

The veteran German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer expressed his deep sadness following the German national team's exit from the 2026 World Cup against Paraguay, affirming that ending his international career in this manner represents an extremely painful moment for him.

Neuer said after the match: "It's extremely painful for things to end this way," referring to the dramatic exit of the German national team on penalties, in what is believed to be his last match wearing the "Mannschaft" jersey.

Neuer's statement comes amid a significant sense of frustration within the German camp, following the national team's continued disappointing results after being eliminated in the group stages of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and then being knocked out in the round of 32 in the 2026 World Cup.

Neuer, one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of football, concludes an exceptional international career that saw him crowned with the 2014 World Cup title and participate in several major tournaments, before bidding farewell to the German national team amid one of the toughest periods the "Mannschaft" is experiencing on the international stage.