Julian Nagelsmann has stated that the German Football Association (DFB) must dismiss him if they wish for a new manager, as he refuses to resign following Germany's surprising exit from the World Cup. The team was eliminated in the last-32 by Paraguay on penalties, a result described as the tournament's biggest shock.
Nagelsmann, 38, is under contract until the 2028 European Championships and expressed his desire to continue in the role. "I'm not someone who runs away," he said. "I'm available if that's what the DFB wants. If they don't want me, they need to tell me. I want to continue."
He added, "In football, you don't have complete control. If the DFB wants me to, I'd be happy to prepare for the Euros and the Nations League. If they don't want me to, they need to say it."
Nagelsmann also voiced his disappointment with a VAR decision that disallowed a potential equalizing goal for Germany. He called the decision "a joke" but acknowledged the team's performance was ultimately insufficient. "It's a joke that our goal was disallowed, but in the end you also have to say it just wasn't enough," he stated.
Kai Havertz, who missed a penalty in the shootout, echoed the sentiment of disappointment. "We are all very disappointed. We had many plans for this year's World Cup. It is not a very good feeling to disappoint again," Havertz said. "As players, we need to look at ourselves and what we can do better. We play for such a big football nation. If you get eliminated early, you don't deserve to stay."
Nagelsmann acknowledged that public opinion in Germany might not favor his continued tenure. "If we did a survey today in Germany people would not speak positively about me today," he admitted. "But in football you win some and you lose some, it's always been that way. We haven't really done much in this tournament to make people celebrate, but I have a lot of confidence that we could have done a better job."
He described the Paraguayan team as "ultra-defensive" and lamented the team's inability to score enough goals. "When you exit the World Cup after you play Paraguay then it is very bitter. If you do not score many goals then it is not enough. It is very hurtful."