Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany fumbled the chance to make history by winning 12 consecutive games after, Ecuador produced a dazzling display in front of 55,000 loud and proud supporters.
Here are the biggest takeaways from Germany’s defeat.
Question marks continue to hang over Julian Nagelsmann
Julian Nagelsmann has been the victim of criticism from the moment he took up the mantle of German national team head coach — and after Germany’s 2-1 loss to Ecuador, the critics will be licking their lips.
Major question marks were raised after the 38-year-old manager
opted against rotation, in favor of maintaining competitive rhythm and team chemistry. One could understand why, because bar Germany’s opening goal, it looked as if that team hadn’t played a single minute together.
Call it a fatigue, call it a lack of hunger, either way tt raises the question: Why didn’t Nagelsmann rotate his squad against Ecuador?
Maybe a rotated squad wouldn’t have been much better than Germany’s starting eleven — but they also couldn’t have been much worse. A rotated squad would have been hungrier and fresher, a better fit for a physical Ecuadorian side who blitzed Germany in transition.
Speaking of…
Germany’s weakness exposed… again
Ecuador provided the perfect blueprint to anyone who wants to beat Germany in this World Cup.
Step 1: Set up in a disciplined, defensive block, starving their key creators the space and breathing room to operate.
Step 2: Exploit Germany’s high line by utilizing pace to launch quick counter-attacks.
Step 3: Take your chances.
Sure, it took a spirited effort from Ecuador to pull that plan off, but it really is that simple.
Tactics don’t always win football games
If you had shown this game to someone with no context of the group standings, it would have been obvious to see which side needed a win. Ecuador had something to play for, Germany didn’t.
Do all the tactics and tinkering you want, but if your players aren’t hungry to win the game, they aren’t going to win.
Ultimately, Ecuador arrived with an appetite of a starving lion, while Germany played like a giant that had already eaten its fill.
Ecua… finally hit a barn door
Ecuador’s defense earned them their ticket to the World Cup, and their attack nearly sent them crashing out.
It took 40 shots for La Tri to score their first goal in the World cup. Ecuador’s finishing was the defining issue in their opening two World Cup games, but after beating Germany 2-1, the Ecuadorian’s finally found their shooting boots.
Angula’s venomous long-range shot found its way past Manuel Neuer in the 9th minute, reviving Ecuador’s Round of 32 hopes. What followed was a first half largely dominated by Sebastián Beccacece’s men.
La Tri continued to take the game to Germany in the second half, and their efforts were eventually rewarded in the 77th minute after Gonzalo Plata tapped Kevin Rodríguez’s flicked on header home from close range.
Plata’s goal proved to be enough to send Ecuador through to the knockout stages for just the second time in their history.
Congratulations, Ecuador!
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