Finally, Uli Stielike has company. For 44 years, an outstanding player for Borussia Monchengladbach, Real Madrid and his country stood alone as the only German man to miss a penalty in a World Cup shootout. Then three came in a flurry: Kai Havertz with a tame attempt, Nick Woltemade with a still tamer one and Jonathan Tah with his wild, skied effort the most crucial of the three before Jose Canale confirmed their fate.
The old stereotypes of Germany football, the Turniermannschaft with their menacing inexorableness, are being destroyed. An exit to Paraguay did not feel very German; but now a staple of the business end of tournaments have failed to make the last 16 of a third successive World Cup. Germany's last victory in a knockout tie remains the 2014 final.
Since then, they have lost, either over 90 minutes or on penalties, to Mexico, South Korea, ******* an, Ecuador and Paraguay, each a result that would have seemed unGerman. There had been pessimism about this week from some in the German footballing world: but in anticipation of a last-16 defeat to France in Philadelphia. Instead, it is Paraguay who head to Pennsylvania. German are off home.
For Julian Nagelsmann, while he said he would "love" to continue in the job, it is presumably to face unemployment. He has been stalked by Jurgen Klopp at this tournament, the spectre of a possible successor coming from the charismatic former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool manager, following his country on punditry duties.
The eventual verdict may be that Nagelsmann has flattered to deceive as the Bundestrainer. Germany have made spectacular starts to two tournaments under him, walloping Scotland 5-1 and Curacao 7-1 but then tailed off. A quarter-final appearance in Euro 2024 could have been a platform for progress. Now Nagelsmann, like Joachim Low and Hansi Flick before him, has become a manager with serious feats on his CV to struggle in a World Cup.
The old stereotypes of Germany football, the Turniermannschaft with their menacing inexorableness, are being destroyed. An exit to Paraguay did not feel very German; but now a staple of the business end of tournaments have failed to make the last 16 of a third successive World Cup. Germany's last victory in a knockout tie remains the 2014 final.
Since then, they have lost, either over 90 minutes or on penalties, to Mexico, South Korea, ******* an, Ecuador and Paraguay, each a result that would have seemed unGerman. There had been pessimism about this week from some in the German footballing world: but in anticipation of a last-16 defeat to France in Philadelphia. Instead, it is Paraguay who head to Pennsylvania. German are off home.
For Julian Nagelsmann, while he said he would "love" to continue in the job, it is presumably to face unemployment. He has been stalked by Jurgen Klopp at this tournament, the spectre of a possible successor coming from the charismatic former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool manager, following his country on punditry duties.
The eventual verdict may be that Nagelsmann has flattered to deceive as the Bundestrainer. Germany have made spectacular starts to two tournaments under him, walloping Scotland 5-1 and Curacao 7-1 but then tailed off. A quarter-final appearance in Euro 2024 could have been a platform for progress. Now Nagelsmann, like Joachim Low and Hansi Flick before him, has become a manager with serious feats on his CV to struggle in a World Cup.
4 months ago
