"I'm not a loser" - Nagelsmann reacts after Germany's shameful loss

Germany's national team endured a humiliating start to their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The team suffered a resounding 3-0 defeat to Slovakia in Bratislava, leaving Nagelsmann in a difficult situation.

Under fire from the press, head coach Julian Nagelsmann criticised his team's attitude, admitting his players were vastly outmatched in every aspect: "If we don't play like it's a Champions League semi-final, we'll be in the play-offs by March."

Visibly frustrated and agitated after what was arguably his and the German national team's most embarrassing defeat, the coach delivered a harsh speech on ARD last night. He lambasted the team's approach to the Slovakia match but failed to explain why the defense appeared so vulnerable and why the team lacked a clear plan and attacking ideas.

"I'm not a loser. I won't dissect anyone's performance on television. We'll sort this out in the locker room, and we have a lot to discuss," Julian Nagelsmann stated, before elaborating and repeatedly questioning his team's attitude, play, and commitment.

"Let's start with very simple things, like emotion. The opponent was far superior to us from the first minute to the last. The Slovaks showed more football on the pitch, with more motivation."

"It's unacceptable to come here and play at 80%, that's just not possible! If we don't bring emotion, we're playing for nothing. Quality doesn't matter," Nagelsmann asserted, though he offered no quick fix for the national team's numerous shortcomings.

"I have no explanation for this. Generally, everyone should have realized that we want to go to the World Cup and play an important role there. We were hundreds of kilometers away from all that today. Except for the start of the second half, the rest was very bleak," was the coach's critical conclusion.

Julian Nagelsmann pinpointed the issue, criticizing the underperforming German stars: "I don't want to hear anything more about quality. It's enough for me if we have attitude. Maybe we need to focus less on quality and more on players who give their all on the pitch."

I don't have 150 players to choose from for the German squad. However, I have faith in the team. We need to approach a match like this as if it were a Champions League semi-final. Otherwise, we'll be playing in the play-offs in March. Everyone needs to realize that playing with the handbrake on isn't enough."

On Sunday, the national team has a chance to redeem themselves against Northern Ireland in Cologne. Another misstep could jeopardize their chances of winning Group A.

"The players have already spoken among themselves. I think they understand what's needed now. The entire group needs to find themselves. If we play with more energy than today, we'll have a better game on Sunday," Nagelsmann hopes.