It feels like Julian Nagelsmann cannot win the public relations battle right now, even though Germany is doing exactly what it was supposed to do at the 2026 World Cup.
After opening the tournament with a dominant 7-1 victory over Curaçao, Germany followed it up with a hard-fought 2-1 comeback win over Ivory Coast to secure a place in the knockout rounds. Two matches, two wins, nine goals scored, and advancement to the Round of 32 already secured. Yet much of the conversation surrounding the team
is not about the results, but rather Nagelsmann’s personnel decisions.
The biggest source of frustration among supporters has been Nagelsmann’s continued faith in Leroy Sané. The winger struggled against Curaçao, missed chances, and has been heavily criticized throughout the tournament. Despite that, Nagelsmann publicly defended Sané and kept him in the starting lineup against Ivory Coast, insisting that he still brings value to the team.
The other major talking point is Deniz Undav. Every time Undav steps onto the pitch, he seems to make something happen. He impressed in the win over Curaçao and then completely changed the match against Ivory Coast by scoring both goals after coming off the bench. Naturally, many fans are asking why he is not starting. The debate has become one of the dominant stories surrounding Germany’s World Cup campaign.
At the same time, there is an argument that the criticism of Nagelsmann has become excessive. Germany has won both matches, qualified for the knockout stage, and shown the depth that tournament contenders need. Coaches are judged by results, and the results have been wins so far. If Nagelsmann’s substitutions are helping Germany win games, does it really matter whether Undav starts or enters as a super-sub?
That does not mean the questions are invalid. Fans naturally want to see in-form players rewarded. However, it is difficult to argue that Germany is in crisis when it has collected six points from six and is moving on comfortably.
So where do you stand? Is Nagelsmann receiving unfair criticism, or are the concerns about Sané and Undav completely justified despite Germany’s perfect start?
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