Julian Nagelsmann has described Paraguay as an “uncomfortable” opponent for Germany in the round of 32, emphasizing that his team will need a “perfect” performance to advance.
As Germany prepares to play their first World Cup knockout tie in 12 years in Boston on Monday, Nagelsmann branded the game “do or die” but fully backed his players to bounce back from their group-stage defeat to Ecuador. Speaking at a news conference on Sunday, the Germany coach noted that Paraguay conceded very few goals during qualification and will ask a lot of his squad.
He stressed the need for patience against a physically strong, compact team that defends well, reiterating that a flawless display is required to secure a victory.
Germany has faced criticism at home following a mixed group stage that saw them thrash Curacao, produce a late comeback to beat Ivory Coast, and lose to Ecuador.
Addressing the recent scrutiny, Nagelsmann bluntly pointed out the fickle nature of tournament football, stating, “If you win everything is perfect, if you lose everything is s—.”
He maintained that the squad is working well together as a unit and that he feels no personal need to prove anything to anyone, focusing instead on supporting his players and ensuring they perform better than they did against Ecuador. Despite going through as Group E winners, Germany looked vulnerable for spells across all three group matches.
However, forward Kai Havertz insists the team is actively blocking out the external noise. The Arsenal attacker stated the squad is fully convinced they can win, dismissing the public criticism as typical big-tournament chatter. Havertz also noted that it naturally takes time for the team to fully click, as players are still readjusting to their international teammates after coming off long, demanding seasons with their respective clubs.
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