When Germany fans woke up on Tuesday morning, they were sure to feel uneasy about what happened in Boston against Paraguay.
Since their last World Cup success in 2014, Germany have failed to exit the group stage twice – in 2018 and 2022 – and lost in the first knockout match of the 2026 final.
Domestically, German football is on the rise. Bundesliga stadiums are overcrowded; even third division games attract tens of thousands of spectators every weekend. But the great football nation risks falling behind on the international stage. Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Bayern Munich’s new rising star Lennart Karl are among the new players who could excite fans, but there is currently no depth of outstanding talent in Germany.
Following a quarter-final exit at the 1998 World Cup and an ignominious group stage exit at Euro 2000, the German FA made fundamental changes to the nation’s youth player development and football coaching training.
Whether the German FA is capable of making significant changes again remains to be seen.
Structural changes will take time, but management changes can happen almost immediately.
After Monday’s defeat, Nagelsmann dismissed the idea that he should resign.
Germany captain Joshua Kimmich said he hoped Nagelsmann would remain at the helm, saying the team was responsible for the disappointing World Cup outcome.
“The fact is that we couldn’t give the people at home what we wanted,” said Bayern’s Kimmich.
“It’s a shame, especially at a time when it would be good for Germany if we had something to be proud of. The national team is not that.”
It is commendable that Kimmich and others are willing to take the blame for the early exit. But the manager was responsible for this disappointing campaign.
Nagelsmann was responsible for the controversial return of 40-year-old goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who had not looked his best at times during the tournament. Nagelsmann was responsible for using Kimmich as a right-back instead of using him in his usual central midfield role. It was Nagelsmann’s decision to rely on aging players such as Leroy Sane and Leon Goretzka.
Nagelsmann’s contract, which was extended at the beginning of 2025, runs until the end of Euro 2028. Sacking a highly paid coach could be quite costly for the German football association, but it may be the only way to start over.