The pressure on under-fire Julian Nagelsmann after Germany’s surprising World Cup exit on Monday told as he snapped at a reporter’s line of questioning post-match.
Germany were dumped out at the last-32 stage by Paraguay after losing 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra-time.
The knockout tie wasn’t without controversy, with Germany’s Jonathan Tah having a highly-contentious goal ruled out in extra-time when VAR adjudged a foul on Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill was committed by substitute Waldemar Anton in the lead up.
After a lengthy time in the dressing room with his players, Germany boss Nagelsmann, 38, returned pitchside to speak with ZDF reporter Lili Engels, 29, for an exchange that quickly became tense as he grew tired of repeating himself about his team’s slow build-up play.
Asked what frustrated him about this exit, Nagelsmann pointed to a number of things – including that and the disallowed goal he described as a ‘scandal’.
‘We had a very slow build-up play; it took ages to shift it from wing to wing. At some point, we switched to a sort of brute-force approach, and then, yes, it was important to make the balls sharp into the box,’ he began.
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Julian Nagelsmann snapped at reporter Lili Engels post-match of Germany’s World Cup loss
Naglesmann’s Germany were beaten on penalties by Paraguay in Monday’s last-32 clash
‘We did get an equaliser, but we could have done that [get balls into the box] much more frequently. At some point, I think we had six or seven players above 6ft 2in on the pitch too and had 11 or 12 corners.
‘We then score a goal from the latter which is a scandal as the referee blows his whistle to disallow it. I have no idea what he saw there. It’s truly a joke.
‘But that’s how it is, it’s pointless to dwell on. We still have to settle and handle the game beforehand, and handle it differently, and we didn’t manage to do that.’
Asked again about Tah’s disallowed goal, Nagelsmann elaborated further: ‘I’m seeing it again right now. It’s not just a scandal, it’s an absolute scandal. That is not even remotely a foul play.’
Engels then pressed Nagelsmann further about why Germany’s bright start to the tournament, which began with a 7-1 win over Curacao in the group stages, couldn’t continue in the last 32.
‘Yes, as I already said, our build-up play today was simply too slow,’ he repeated.
Engels challenges Nagelsmann once more about their exit to which came the final straw: ‘Yes, I just told you. The build-up play was too slow. I’ve already said that three times now,’ he snapped back.
With things now tense, Engels then asked about the 38-year-old’s future – with his contract due to expire at the end of the Euro 2028 tournament.
‘I am available. If the DFB [German FA] wants it, then I will do the Euro 2028, and if not then they have to tell me.
‘I’m not someone who runs away,’ he added when Engels quizzed if he has thought about leaving the role.
Engels, 29, infuriated Nagelsmann who repeated their slow build-up play as a cause for losing
Jurgen Klopp (left) is wanted by many within Germany to replace under-fire Nagelsmann now
In his post-match press conference, Nagelsmann doubled down on this stance, saying: ‘In football, you don’t have complete control. If the DFB wants me to, I’d be happy to prepare for the Euros and the Nations League. If they don’t want me to, they need to say it.’
There is an increasing clamour in Germany for Jurgen Klopp to succeed Nagelsmann. The ex-Liverpool boss has been at the World Cup as a pundit for German broadcaster Magenta TV and witnessed his country’s defeat in person on Monday.
Speaking about the clamour for him to take over, Klopp said: ‘I haven’t thought about that yet.
‘I understand that my name is being mentioned now. But it’s not the time to talk about that.’
