Former Real Madrid star Toni Kroos has warned Germany to fix their glaring tactical and creative issues or face an immediate World Cup exit against Paraguay in the round of 32.
Star playmakers Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz are currently out of top form, and Kroos stressed that the team will not last much longer unless both players ignite their creative spark.
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Despite the structural shortcomings, Kroos remains confident that the group has the fight to win if everything finally “clicks” against top opponents.
“It has to be nasty to play against us, meaning we need to be capable of defending well and being gritty. We aren’t doing that yet. And we need Musiala and Wirtz in top form – which we don’t have right now,” Kroos said on TikTok Live show.
“If both of these things don’t change, we won’t last much longer. We used to have matches where we played poorly too – like against Algeria. But we were still able to win those 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 saying that (complacency) had absolutely nothing to do with it. You always have that in the back of your mind when you’ve already qualified. You can’t just block it out; it’s completely human. We are simply not a physical team.”
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Germany is still expected to keep faith with Musiala and Wirtz against Paraguay, despite both attacking midfielders struggling to influence the defeat to Ecuador.
Victory would move Nagelsmann’s team into the last 16, where a heavyweight meeting with France could await.
