Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann remains confident in young midfield stars Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz despite their underwhelming performances so far in the FIFA World Cup. The pair have yet to make the impact many expected, but the coach insists they will continue to play a key role as Germany prepare for their Round of 32 encounter.
Musiala and Wirtz struggled to influence the game in Germany’s defeat to Ecuador, with the opposition’s disciplined defense limiting their ability to create chances. Even so, Nagelsmann has ruled out making changes to his attacking setup.
Speaking to reporters, the German coach praised Wirtz for his effort and determination.
“Flo worked incredibly hard and gave everything. Luck hasn’t been on his side lately. He produced a couple of outstanding dribbles in the penalty area, but the goal just hasn’t come yet,” Nagelsmann said.
The coach also expressed confidence in Musiala, who is still working his way back after a lengthy injury absence.
“He spent almost a year out injured, and we all know the quality he possesses. Our task is to help him regain his best form. I’m convinced both Musiala and Wirtz can deliver the breakthrough we’ve been waiting for in Monday’s match,” he added.
One bright spot from the loss to Ecuador was Leroy Sané’s goal, which ended his scoring drought. Nagelsmann welcomed the winger’s return to the scoresheet and praised his overall display.
“I’m really happy for him. He’s been playing well and was close to scoring another goal,” the coach said.
Despite the disappointing result, Nagelsmann believes the team should focus on learning from the defeat rather than making sweeping changes.
“The important thing is to take lessons from this experience. If we had already secured the result we wanted, I might have approached things differently. But on Monday, we have to give everything to reach the next round. We need to step onto the pitch with confidence,” he said.
Germany will face Paraguay in the Round of 32 on Monday in Boston, United States. The squad is set to leave its base camp in Winston-Salem and travel to Boston ahead of the knockout fixture.
Nagelsmann confirmed that he is unlikely to make major changes to his lineup, choosing instead to place his trust in Musiala, Wirtz, and the rest of Germany’s attacking unit as the four-time world champions fight to keep their World Cup campaign alive.
