The DFB team experienced a humiliating early exit in the World Cup’s round of 16 in North America. How did individual players perform? Here’s the report card.
After two victories against Curaçao (7:1) and Ivory Coast (2:1), Germany had already secured their position as group winners. This was followed by a sportingly irrelevant 1:2 loss against Ecuador and a dramatic defeat in the round of 16 after a penalty shootout against Paraguay.
Note: Players with less than 90 minutes of playing time receive no rating.
DFB World Cup Report Card, Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer
Returning to the national team at the age of 40 after months of debate and numerous denials. Head coach Julian Nagelsmann extensively praised Neuer’s supposed «aura,» but its impact was nowhere to be seen at the World Cup. Neuer conceded at least one goal in every match, even playing a decisive role in the second against Ecuador. Neuer showed no sensational reflexes, though he did keep Germany in the tournament for a few more moments by saving a shot in the penalty shootout against Paraguay. Rating: 4.
- Matches: 4
- Minutes: 390
- Goals Conceded: 5
- Clean Sheets: 0
DFB World Cup Report Card, Goalkeeper: Oliver Baumann
Was a solid support in qualification and also played in the last two test matches before Nagelsmann relegated him to the bench just before the World Cup. Baumann impressively stepped up as a reserve and was the first to rally the team in the penalty shootout against Paraguay. Many points for likeability, but since Nagelsmann didn’t even reward him with an appearance in the meaningless game against Ecuador: No rating.
- Matches: 0
- Minutes: 0
- Goals Conceded: 0
- Clean Sheets: 0
DFB World Cup Report Card, Goalkeeper: Alexander Nübel
Played no role as the third-choice goalkeeper. Apart from Nübel, along with Jonas Urbig, who traveled as a ‘training goalkeeper’, letting shots fly past them in Winston-Salem. No rating.
- Matches: 0
- Minutes: 0
- Goals Conceded: 0
- Clean Sheets: 0
DFB World Cup Report Card, Defense: Joshua Kimmich
Like Kimmich’s entire national team career, this World Cup was accompanied by constant debate about where he is best suited – right-back or central midfield. Nagelsmann deployed Kimmich as a right-back, but in possession, he consistently drifted into the middle. Against the ball, Kimmich showed significant problems with agile opponents; Ivorian Yan Diomande, in particular, at times made Kimmich look lost. As Germany faced elimination against Paraguay, Nagelsmann finally pushed his captain into central midfield. Rating: 4.5.
- Matches: 4
- Minutes: 353
- Goals: 0
- Assists: 2
DFB World Cup Report Card, Defense: Jonathan Tah
The tragic figure in the elimination against Paraguay. In extra time, Tah initially put Germany ahead with a header, but the goal was disallowed after a highly contentious VAR intervention. He then shot the decisive penalty high over the bar. Solid as a defensive leader, apart from an insecure second half against Ecuador. Notably, Tah was always the first to gesture and motivate his teammates after conceding goals. Rating: 4.
- Matches: 4
- Minutes: 373
- Goals: 0
- Assists: 0
DFB World Cup Report Card, Defense: Nico Schlotterbeck
Started the tournament as Tah’s partner and the only left-footed center-back. He put Germany ahead 2:1 against Curaçao but then suffered an ankle ligament tear against Ivory Coast. This prematurely ended Schlotterbeck’s World Cup. It also ended his plan to market himself with further strong performances. Upon extending his contract with BVB in the spring, Schlotterbeck had a special World Cup clause written into his contract, allowing him to move to one of three selected top clubs for €50-60 million up to a week after the final. Rating: 3.
- Matches: 2
- Minutes: 135
- Goals: 1
- Assists: 0
DFB World Cup Report Card, Defense: Antonio Rüdiger
Stepped into the starting lineup after Schlotterbeck’s injury and was surprisingly inconspicuous by his standards, both on and off the pitch. Rating: 3.5.
- Matches: 4
- Minutes: 262
- Goals: 0
- Assists: 0
DFB World Cup Report Card, Defense: Waldemar Anton
Nagelsmann’s fourth-choice center-back and second-choice right-back. When the head coach moved Kimmich into central midfield against Paraguay, Anton came in at right-back and delivered a performance for which the word ‘unfortunate’ was invented. He first blocked a dangerous Goretzka header, then his alleged foul on Paraguayan keeper Orlando Gill led to Tah’s disallowed goal, and finally, he missed a huge headed chance shortly before the end. No rating.
- Matches: 2
- Minutes: 48
- Goals: 0
- Assists: 0
DFB World Cup Report Card, Defense: Malick Thiaw
Two brief appearances, no notable impact. No rating.
- Matches: 2
- Minutes: 40
- Goals: 0
- Assists: 0
DFB World Cup Report Card, Defense: Nathaniel Brown
Germany’s newcomer of the tournament. After a strong season with Eintracht Frankfurt, Brown earned a starting spot as left-back shortly before the World Cup. Very offensively minded and contributed two assists against Curaçao. However, he was shaky defensively, for example, during the temporary deficits against Ivory Coast and Paraguay. He missed the game against Ecuador due to calf problems. Rating: 3.5.
- Matches: 3
- Minutes: 283
- Goals: 1
- Assists: 1
DFB World Cup Report Card, Defense: David Raum
Initially the starter at left-back in qualification, Raum lost the competition to Brown before the World Cup. He got his chance against Ecuador but didn’t capitalize on it despite occasional good crosses. Rating: 4.
- Matches: 2
- Minutes: 107
- Goals: 0
- Assists: 0
DFB World Cup Report Card, Midfield: Aleksandar Pavlovic
After a good season with Bayern Munich, Pavlovic had a highly disappointing World Cup. He formed a double pivot with Nmecha, although the two had never played together from the start before the final test matches. Unsurprisingly, coordination was lacking. Pavlovic was largely responsible for the goal conceded against Ecuador and was then substituted at halftime with a yellow card. Rating: 5.
- Matches: 4
- Minutes: 274
- Goals: 0
- Assists: 0
DFB World Cup Report Card, Midfield: Felix Nmecha
Two assists against Curaçao (including a subsequent prayer circle) and a superb pass leading to Undav’s winning goal against Ivory Coast – and Nmecha was suddenly linked with Real Madrid and several Premier League top clubs. €100 million? €120 million? Anything seemed possible. This was followed by two abysmal performances against Ecuador and Paraguay, and suddenly Nmecha seems more suited to Borussia Dortmund than Real. Rating: 3.5.
- Matches: 4
- Minutes: 272
- Goals: 1
- Assists: 2
DFB World Cup Report Card, Midfield: Leon Goretzka
A starter in qualification, Nagelsmann publicly assured him of this role for the World Cup in March. Before the tournament, however, Goretzka lost the competition to Nmecha and only came on as a substitute three times. He made a crucial clearance shortly before the winning goal against Ivory Coast; otherwise, he made no significant impact. Rating: 4.
- Matches: 3
- Minutes: 97
- Goals: 0
- Assists: 0
DFB World Cup Report Card, Midfield: Nadiem Amiri
Somewhat surprisingly substituted on against Ivory Coast instead of Goretzka, he provided a perfect cross for Undav’s equalizer. In his second appearance against Paraguay, Amiri was one of only three Germans to convert their penalty in the shootout. No rating.
- Matches: 2
- Minutes: 40
- Goals: 0
- Assists: 1
DFB World Cup Report Card, Midfield: Pascal Groß
Actively involved in the chaotic final phase against Ecuador. No rating.
- Matches: 1
- Minutes: 17
- Goals: 0
- Assists: 0
DFB World Cup Report Card, Midfield: Angelo Stiller
See Groß. No rating.
- Matches: 1
- Minutes: 45
- Goals: 0
- Assists: 0
DFB World Cup Report Card, Midfield: Assan Ouedraogo
After Lennart Karl’s injury, Nagelsmann did not call up a positional replacement like Said El Mala but instead brought in another central midfielder, Ouedraogo. Why? According to Nagelsmann, Ouedraogo was in rhythm due to RB Leipzig’s trip to South Africa and is also very likeable. He was the only outfield player not to feature in the World Cup. No rating.
- Matches: 0
- Minutes: 0
- Goals: 0
- Assists: 0
DFB World Cup Report Card, Attack: Leroy Sané
Stepped into the starting lineup thanks to Karl’s injury and remained there for all four games – despite one unlucky performance after another. Not even his quick opening goal against Ecuador led to a positive explosion of performance from Sané. Against Paraguay, he recorded devastating statistics: Sané won none of his seven dribbles, and none of his eight crosses were completed. Rating: 4.5.
- Matches: 4
- Minutes: 328
- Goals: 1
- Assists: 0
DFB World Cup Report Card, Attack: Jamie Leweling
Was considered a promising substitute before the tournament but did not fulfill that role. Despite Sané’s struggles, Leweling only came on as an ineffective substitute. No rating.
- Matches: 1
- Minutes: 30
- Goals: 0
- Assists: 0
DFB World Cup Report Card, Midfield: Jamal Musiala
Germany’s biggest hope turned into Germany’s biggest disappointment. Just like in the decisive matches with FC Bayern, Musiala was ineffective at the World Cup despite all efforts (apart from a decent performance against the football dwarf Curaçao). Against Paraguay, Nagelsmann even dropped him from the starting lineup. Rating: 4.5.
- Matches: 4
- Minutes: 271
- Goals: 1
- Assists: 0
DFB World Cup Report Card, Midfield: Florian Wirtz
The second German magician also played far below his capabilities. Due to Musiala’s starting position at number ten, Wirtz had to move to the left wing, but he regularly cut inside, creating an overload in the center. He did contribute three assists, including a strong cross that set up Havertz’s equalizer against Paraguay. Rating: 4.
- Matches: 4
- Minutes: 363
- Goals: 0
- Assists: 3
DFB World Cup Report Card, Attack: Kai Havertz
Three goals in four games – including the equalizer against Paraguay – are generally a decent return, but much more could have been possible for him. Havertz disappeared for long stretches. His lack of confidence was evident in the penalty shootout against Paraguay, where he, usually a reliable taker, missed miserably from the spot. Rating: 3.5.
- Matches: 4
- Minutes: 355
- Goals: 3
- Assists: 0
DFB World Cup Report Card, Attack: Deniz Undav
Initially the great highlight of the DFB team with two brilliant substitute appearances (five goal contributions in 56 minutes). Undav even surpassed Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and others in the FIFA Power Ranking. Against Ecuador, even the super-joker couldn’t make a difference, before Nagelsmann made the big mistake and called him up for the starting lineup against Paraguay. The smaller problem was his invisible performance with only nine touches in 63 minutes. The bigger problem: Nagelsmann no longer had the super-joker Undav. Rating: 2.
- Matches: 4
- Minutes: 149
- Goals: 3
- Assists: 2
DFB World Cup Report Card, Attack: Nick Woltemade
The embodiment of Nagelsmann’s failed tournament coaching. As the only outfield player besides Ouedraogo, the head coach denied his best qualifier goalscorer any playing time in the group stage, not even in the meaningless duel with Ecuador. Because Nagelsmann then put Undav in the starting lineup against Paraguay, he suddenly needed Woltemade as a joker in a critical situation. Without confidence and match practice, he made his World Cup debut and missed in the penalty shootout. No rating.
- Matches: 1
- Minutes: 32
- Goals: 0
- Assists: 0
DFB World Cup Report Card, Attack: Maximilian Beier
Beier got some minutes against Ecuador, proving he also participated in the World Cup. No rating.
- Matches: 1
- Minutes: 26
- Goals: 0
- Assists: 0