Nagelsmann refused to resign after the sensational defeat by Paraguay

The German national team is once again packing its bags long before the World Cup finals. The sensational defeat by Paraguay (41st place in the FIFA ranking) in the 1/16 finals of the tournament was a real shock for the nation. The main and extra time ended with a score of 1:1, and the South Americans went to a penalty shootout However, the main topic of the post-match discussions was not so much the course of the game, but the emotional and frank reaction of the head coach of the national team, Julian Nagelsmann, who will now have to fight for his seat. Immediately after the final whistle, the 38-year-old specialist did not hide behind excuses, openly declaring the painfulness of the situation and the systemic decline of the national team. "When you leave the World Cup after the game against Paraguay, it's very bitter. It's very painful. It's the third elimination in a row in the early stages of the tournament, so we're no longer among the first-class teams," Nagelsmann stated. Journalists repeatedly asked the coach about his possible resignation. Nagelsmann admitted that his popularity among fans is now at zero, but declared his willingness to fight on: "If we do a poll in Germany today, people obviously won't speak positively about me. I don't think everyone in Germany will agree that I will stay and continue to work as a manager. I'm not going to back down just because we got knocked out. I'm not one to run away." If the German Football Association wants me to continue, I will continue. I know how the industry works and a lot of people now want me to leave. But my desire is to continue working," said the helmsman. Despite the pressure and expectations of harsh criticism, the coach was genuinely impressed by the reaction of the fans in Boston: "I expected a completely different reaction from them, but it was amazing and impressive how they supported us, even after the defeat." Experts partially blame coaching decisions. Rafael Honigshtein from the broadcaster noted: "There were too many important calls that didn't happen for Nagelsmann. I'm afraid it's over for him." Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp harshly criticized the team's tactics even before the game, and now it is his fans who are demanding to be appointed the new manager of the national team. As former international Thomas Hitzlsperger pointed out, Nagelsmann's team focused on passing aesthetics, ultimately losing the signature aura that once made opponents fear Germany before they even stepped on the field. Now the ball is in the court of the German Football Association, which will have to decide whether to give Nagelsmann a chance to regain that aura, or to start a new era.