Julian Nagelsmann: The players gave their all in the match and showed a positive and courageous attitude.

Germany secured their place in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup by defeating Curaçao 7-1 and Ivory Coast 2-1 in the group stage. Head coach Julian Nagelsmann reviewed the match against Ivory Coast in an interview, discussing the team's overall performance, their prospects in the knockout stages, and the injury status of Nico Schlotterbeck.  

Julian Nagelsmann said: "The team gave their all in the game, and the substitutes' introduction also had a positive impact. We failed to press in time when we lost possession and did not control some dangerous situations very well, but that's part of the game. As the game progressed, we became more aggressive and courageous. The players were willing to take risks on the pitch because they wanted to win, which is what we expected, and I am very satisfied with that."  

“Every win means 3 points, but such victories are often more valuable than easy wins. Everyone knows the importance of that goal, and the scene of the whole team celebrating together in the corner was very impressive. This will give us a positive boost, and we hope to continue to achieve such victories in the future.”  

When asked about the reason for making early personnel changes, Julian Nagelsmann replied: "In the first 10 minutes of the second half, our intensity was insufficient. I relied heavily on the bench because fresh energy can change the course of a game. We originally planned to bring on Deniz Wendav, but Nadim Amiri hardly needed to warm up; his cross directly helped us equalize. All the substitutes played a positive role in the game."  

“Nico Schlotterbeck suffered a medial malleolar ligament injury. We still need to wait for further imaging results, but the situation is not ideal at the moment. It was very difficult for him to finish the first half, but he gave his all for the team.”  

"We can't influence the results of other groups' matches, and it's difficult to deliberately plan our path to the next round, because we'll face strong teams sooner or later. The coaching staff will discuss with Rudy Völler whether we need to rotate the squad. At the same time, we must maintain the team's competitive form, and we will try to strike a balance between the two."  

Speaking about the atmosphere with the German fans at the stadium, Julian Nagelsmann said, "The atmosphere was incredible. I could see fans wearing German jerseys even from my hotel. The fans' parade was very special, and we are very grateful to them for traveling such a long distance to support the team. When there is a connection between the team and the fans, it creates a powerful energy, and their support is crucial to us."  

Image source: Internet/German National Team official website