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Germany forward Deniz Undav has delivered a passionate message to his teammates, declaring that the squad must become more “nasty” if they want to thrive in the World Cup knockout stages. The Stuttgart striker’s comments followed Germany’s disappointing 2-1 loss to Ecuador, a result that has sparked differing viewpoints between the players and head coach Julian Nagelsmann.

Undav calls for greater aggression from Germany

Although Germany had already guaranteed qualification, the nature of the defeat has raised questions about the team’s ability to cope with physically dominant sides. Undav, who came on as a substitute in the 60th minute, observed that the Ecuadorian players displayed far greater determination and fight on the pitch.

Reflecting on the match, the 29-year-old highlighted the disparity in energy levels between the two teams. “Ecuador were more aggressive and sharper than us. That’s something we need to learn from and take the right lessons. We weren’t as direct in our play and didn’t create enough chances,” he explained. Undav went on to stress that Germany must adapt their mentality: “We have to stand our ground more. If things get nasty, we need to be nasty too.”

Nagelsmann dismisses doubts about commitment

While Undav believes Germany lacked the necessary edge, Nagelsmann quickly defended his side against suggestions that they had eased off. During a post-match interview, the coach reacted firmly when Magenta TV presenter Johannes Kerner questioned whether his players had lacked intensity. “Please stop with that nonsense, honestly. Why wouldn’t the boys want to go full throttle?” Nagelsmann responded. “No, they didn’t want it more. They simply took more risks in several situations.”

The coach acknowledged that Germany’s position in the group – having already secured progression – influenced his rotation choices, but he refused to attribute the defeat to a lack of effort. “Of course, we made different substitutions than we would have if we desperately needed a goal. But I can’t tell any player that he didn’t give his all. That’s far too much of a cliché for me,” he added.

Defensive questions and Manuel Neuer’s performance

The loss also renewed scrutiny of veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. The Bayern Munich star came under criticism for his part in Ecuador’s decisive goal, as he appeared uncertain before Gonzalo Plata capitalised on a late corner to secure the win.

Despite the debate surrounding the goalkeeping position, Nagelsmann stood firmly by his first-choice keeper. He acknowledged that Neuer had faced some difficult situations, describing the shots as “nasty” to handle, but insisted there would be no changes between the posts. The coach lamented the absence of key “winning actions” from his goalkeeper but maintained faith in his experience as the tournament moves into the knockout rounds.

Boston awaits in the Round of 32

Germany still finished top of Group E and will now travel to Foxborough, near Boston, for their Round of 32 fixture on Monday. Their opponent is yet to be confirmed, but the team knows they cannot afford another display as disjointed as the one in New Jersey. Plata’s late strike served as a sharp reminder for a side that had looked dominant earlier in the competition.

For Undav, the focus is on matching the physical intensity of whoever comes next. After failing to record a goal involvement for the first time in this tournament, the striker is eager to prove that the setback against Ecuador was merely a temporary blip. As the knockout phase begins, Nagelsmann’s men must find a balance between their manager’s belief in their effort and Undav’s call for a more combative edge on the pitch.