World Cup 2026: Why Paraguay eliminated us – Germany coach, Julian Nagelsmann
Germany’s World Cup Exit Attributed to Slow Play, Says Head Coach Nagelsmann
Germany’s head coach, Julian Nagelsmann, discussed the factors leading to his team’s elimination from the World Cup on Monday, following a narrow defeat to Paraguay.
In a post-match interview, Nagelsmann assessed that Germany’s build-up play was overly slow, hindering their effectiveness against Paraguay. He noted that his team did not apply sufficient pressure to compel their opponents into defensive play and failed to capitalize on opportunities to deliver the ball into the box.
This analysis comes after Germany was eliminated in the Round of 32, losing 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regulation.
During the shootout, players Kai Havertz, Nick Woltemade, and Jonathan Tah missed their penalties, contributing to the team’s exit.
“There’s a real sense of dejection in the dressing room,” Nagelsmann stated. “Unfortunately, that’s how football works sometimes; some teams can win with simple means. You have to defend against those means consistently.”
He emphasized the need for improvement in Germany’s gameplay, stating, “We took too long to make our opponent chase the game. We could have put the ball into the box far more often. We have to settle the game before it gets to penalties. Our build-up play was too slow.”