German soul-searching ahead of knock-outs after Ecuador setback
· Yahoo Sports
Germany need a quick turnaround from a worrying setback as they prepare for the World Cup knock-out stages.
Their round of 32 match is scheduled for Monday, with Paraguay the most likely opponent, a South American team like Ecuador who beat the Germans 2-1 on Thursday in what was a must-win game for them.
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Germany could afford the defeat because they were already confirmed as group winners after earlier wins against Curacao and Ivory Coast but it also raised questions how competitive the four-time champions really are.
Right approach needed
Coach Julian Nagelsmann admitted that they need "to do a few things better" to move into the last 16 where top favourites France could be awaiting.
“Defeats are never good, not even in a match where nothing is at stake in the league table. It’s important that we learn from this, but then put it behind us in good time and look ahead,” he said.
“Now it’s all about approaching the next match in the right frame of mind, giving it our all to win and reach the next round.”
Paraguay, or the other options Sweden and Scotland, are not top sides but the Germans can not take anything for granted. They beat Ivory Coast in stoppage time from super-sub Deniz Undav and robust Ecuador then ended a run of 11 straight victories.
Not enough effort?
Captain Joshua Kimmich suggested a reason for the defeat when he said: “I had the feeling that they wanted it more than we did. They were more aggressive. They were still playing for everything.
“That’s what annoys me a bit, or rather, what annoys me the most: the feeling that the opposition wanted to win more than we did,” he said.
Undav struck a similar line but Nagelsmann dismissed any kind of such suggestions, telling MagentaTV: "Please stop this nonsense – honestly. Why didn’t the lads want to go full throttle?"
Deficits in several areas
In Germany, the Bild paper said that "this performance raises concern", Kicker sports magazine spoke of "deficits in all parts of the team" and the Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) said the defeat highlighted an ongoing problem.
"What was missing had to do with qualities that this team consistently lacks: the ability to dominate a truly strong opponent. To keep them away from goal once in the lead, to maintain control on the pitch. These are the hallmarks of a top-class team," the SZ said.
Leroy Sané's second minute goal (which should not have counted because of a foul in the build-up) didn't give the team confidence, Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala are yet to show their class up front, Aleksandar Pavlović had another difficult day in midfield and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer did not look good on Ecuador's winner.
Nagelsmann gave several players a chance to play at the World Cup for the first time, such as Angelo Stiller and Pascal Gross, which added to the below-par showing as the flow and determination was lacking.
No panic moves but daily training
Germany must make amends but Nagelsmann has said he will stop short of moving for instance Kimmich into midfield, where he plays at Bayern Munich, from the right back position in place of Pavlović.
The coach there will be no full day off for the players like after the previous matches: "We will train because we don't have that much time."
The only positive notes on Thursday were that Sané finally found the net again and that left back Nathaniel Brown should be fir to play again on Monday in Foxborough after missing Thursday's game with muscular problems.
"We know that we will need a better performance in the knock-out phase, regardless of against who we play," Neuer said.