Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann didn’t hold back after his side slumped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Slovakia in their opening game at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The result has raised fresh concerns about where this German team is headed, especially with Northern Ireland waiting in their next World Cup qualifier.
It was an uninspired display from the four-time world champions, who looked second-best through out the evening. Softfootball understands that Nagelsmann was left deeply frustrated by the lack of fight from his players and admitted that responsibility falls squarely on his shoulders.
Speaking with the DFB official media via the national team website, Nagelsmann had this to say:
There was no passion at all and we were second-best in every single challenge. It wasn’t so much a question of if they were going to take the lead, but when.
I hoped that it would have woken us up. We had a decent first five minutes in the second half, but that’s just not enough.
It’s not the fault of the team or individual players; we as coaches need to take responsibility, as we are the ones that gave the instructions. It’s my responsibility.
Slovakia are a lower-ranked side than us, but were miles clear of us in every aspect.
Nagelsmann’s words were raw and direct, the kind that make it clear just how much this defeat stings. Rather than single out players, he took the blame himself but the message was equally clear: Germany cannot afford to show up without fire in their belly.
While it is understandable that the coach continues to protect his squad from harsh criticism, there’s an expectation that his players must now respond with a stronger mentality. For Nagelsmann, quality isn’t the issue; passion is. Without it, the German badge counts for little.
All eyes now turn to Cologne, where Northern Ireland await on Sunday night. It’s an early test of how quickly Germany can bounce back, and whether this squad can summon the intensity that their coach and the fans are demanding.
