Lothar Matthäus has urged the German Football Association to dismiss Julian Nagelsmann as head coach following Germany’s shock elimination from the World Cup.
The national team crashed out in the round of 32 after suffering defeat to Paraguay on Monday. The result sealed a disappointing tournament campaign that had already seen the team struggle for consistency during the group phase, most notably in a 2-1 loss to Ecuador.
Matthäus calls for change
Matthäus, a German legend, believes the performance against Paraguay demonstrated fundamental flaws that necessitate an immediate managerial change. Speaking to Bild, he described the display as “subpar” and suggested the issues extend beyond tactical matters into the broader structure of the national team.
“I believe that after this World Cup, we have to continue with a new coach. This was simply too much,” Matthäus said. “There’s probably a lot that needs to be reviewed, on the pitch and off it.”
His criticism was not limited to the knockout defeat alone. Matthäus also referenced the earlier group-stage loss to Ecuador as evidence of a worrying pattern throughout the competition. “A game like that can happen. But we played a catastrophe game against Ecuador already,” he stated. “When you look at everything as a whole: I’m not surprised that you can be eliminated against such a weak team. But I’m not sad because of the performance we showed.”
Nagelsmann committed to stay
Despite the stinging criticism from one of the country’s most celebrated former players, Nagelsmann has publicly affirmed his commitment to the role. The 36-year-old coach stated following the Paraguay match that he is willing to see out his contract, which is scheduled to run until after the 2028 European Championship.
This long-term agreement presents the German Football Association with a complex dilemma. While Nagelsmann appears determined to honour his deal and oversee a recovery process, Matthäus’s intervention adds significant pressure for the governing body to consider whether an immediate fresh start is necessary before the next international tournament cycle begins.
The DFB has not yet issued any statement clarifying whether Nagelsmann retains the board’s full confidence or if they are considering alternative candidates for the position.