Julian Nagelsmann has ruled out stepping down as Germany’s national coach following the humiliating exit against Paraguay in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
«I am ready if that is what is desired, and if it is not desired, then I must be told,» Nagelsmann said. «I would like to continue. But in football, anything can happen. If the DFB wants me, I will gladly prepare for the European Championship and the Nations League. If not, then I must be told.» He added to ZDF, «I am not one to run away.»
Germany has missed the knockout stage of the World Cup for the third consecutive time after losing a penalty shootout to Paraguay, a team that seemed solely focused on reaching penalties from the 60th minute onwards. The German team displayed a lack of nearly all virtues once associated with the national team in the round of 16, not only definitively losing their aura as a tournament team but also their reputation as a successful team from the penalty spot. For the first time ever, the DFB eleven lost a World Cup penalty shootout, and the fact that the team missed half (!) of their six penalties spoke volumes.
Julian Nagelsmann Also Had to Deal with «Shadow National Coach» Jürgen Klopp
Nagelsmann faced criticism even before the tournament began. At the start of spring, in a widely noted interview with kicker, he more or less defined his squad and the roles of individual players for the team. During the preparation phase, he publicly criticized Deniz Undav, the best goal scorer, and almost demonstratively kept him out of the starting lineup even when Undav was scoring almost at will in the first two World Cup games against Curacao and Ivory Coast. His handling of Manuel Neuer’s return to the national team also drew criticism.
Before the first group match, a 7-1 victory against Curacao, a playful exchange between «shadow national coach» Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Müller on MagentaTV («Still! Still!») caused a stir. Klopp later apologized to Nagelsmann.
In the 1-2 loss to Ecuador in the final group game, Nagelsmann caused bewilderment by not playing Oliver Baumann, even though Germany had already qualified for the knockout phase as group winners. His substitutions, which did not align with the previously defined roles of the squad players, also drew criticism.
Before the elimination against Paraguay, there was also a lively discussion about whether Joshua Kimmich should return to midfield. Nagelsmann played him as a right-back against Paraguay but did not rule out a future return to Kimmich’s primary position. That will no longer happen.
Rudi Völler Supports Nagelsmann — Klopp Does Not Want to Talk About National Coach Job
Despite the discord before, during, and after the disastrous World Cup performance, not only players like Joshua Kimmich and Kai Havertz demonstratively supported Nagelsmann, but also DFB Sporting Director Rudi Völler.
Kimmich, in particular, was very clear on this matter. «As a child watching Germany on TV, it was always semi-finals, finals. Of course, you want to give that to the children and the people and the current generation. The fact is, we couldn’t give that to all the people at home. That is very, very unfortunate, especially at a time when it would do us extremely well and we have something in Germany to be proud of. Unfortunately, the national team is not that at the moment, and we all bear responsibility for that. We must take responsibility for that, no one should exempt themselves, but we must stand by it because we players who were on the field messed it up. It wasn’t the coach, not the media, not the referee, not even the opponent, but it was solely us.»
Völler also advocated for Nagelsmann’s continued tenure as national coach. «It was said that I would always defend him. But he doesn’t need that at all. I consider him a top coach. I think he is probably still the right one. But of course, I am not alone at the DFB. I still think he is the right person in the right place. We would do well to gather ourselves and then sit down together,» Völler said.
Former international player Mats Hummels demanded consequences more sharply: «On the responsible side,» said the 2014 World Cup winner, «this calls for consequences.» Football is «too much of a performance sport» for everything not to be discussed now – including a future without Nagelsmann.
Would Klopp, if it came to it, step out of the shadows and onto the stage? «I haven’t thought about that yet. […] But now is absolutely not the time to talk about it. I have a job that I enjoy very much. As far as I’ve heard, it’s not a part-time job. There’s no reason to attack. Julian is right. The team wanted to, but they couldn’t in certain situations.»