We have experienced previous championships where Germany has started a championship shakily, only to pick up the pace and raise the performance when it really matters. The problem is that there are far too many championships since Germany played as a title contender. Toni Kroos helped Germany to the World Cup title in 2014, he does not hold back on criticism of what Germany with Nagelsmann at the helm is now delivering.
Germany comfortably secured the top spot in Group E after a convincing 7-1 win over Curaçao and a narrow 2-1 win against Ivory Coast. Despite an early opening goal from Leroy Sané, Nagelsmann’s side lost 2-1 to Ecuador in their last group game. With its oldest starting line-up in a World Cup since 1998, the ageing squad delivered a lacklustre performance that drew strong criticism from pundits.
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Expectations were sky-high for Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz before the tournament, but both players struggled as their dribbling threat was neutralized by Ecuador’s physical approach. In a live broadcast on TikTok alongside Lukas Podolski, Kroos openly disagreed with Nagelsmann, who had refused to question the players’ absolute desire to win.
-It will be ugly to play against us. Then we must be able to defend ourselves well and be steadfast. We don’t do that yet. And we need [Jamal] Musiala and [Florian] Wirtz in top form – which we don’t have right now. If none of these things change, we won’t last much longer,” Kroos begins.
“We used to have games where we played badly as well – like against Algeria, but we still managed to win the bad games. I don’t think this current team has that in them. This is a group that gives everything. However, I don’t agree with the coach who says that [complacency] had nothing to do with it. You always have that in mind when you have already qualified. You can’t just block it out; It’s completely human. We are simply not a physical team,” the German Real Madrid legend continues.
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Who nevertheless has faith in Die Mannschaft, if things change: -And I stand by my statement: I believe that if it comes to a match against France, if everything is right, we can beat them.
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