Germany legend, Toni Kroos, has raised serious concerns about the national team’s defensive frailties after their disappointing end to the group stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, warning that Julian Nagelsmann’s side could be heading for an early exit unless they quickly tighten up at the back and rediscover their attacking spark.
Despite finishing top of Group E, Germany’s campaign suffered a setback with a 2-1 defeat to Ecuador in their final group-stage match.
The loss exposed vulnerabilities in a side that had looked dominant in earlier victories over Curacao and Ivory Coast, prompting criticism of both their defensive organisation and overall performance.
Nagelsmann’s men opened their campaign with a convincing 7-1 victory against Curacao before edging Ivory Coast 2-1 to secure qualification.
However, their momentum stalled against Ecuador, who recovered from an early Leroy Sane goal to claim victory.
Germany’s oldest World Cup starting XI since 1998 struggled to match the intensity of their opponents, producing a display that left many observers unimpressed.
Much of the spotlight has fallen on Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, who entered the tournament with high expectations but failed to influence the contest as Ecuador’s physical approach disrupted their rhythm.
Speaking on his TikTok live show alongside Lukas Podolski, Kroos openly disagreed with Nagelsmann’s insistence that complacency played no role in the defeat.
Kroos stated, “It has to be nasty to play against us, meaning we need to be capable of defending well and being gritty. We aren’t doing that yet. And we need [Jamal] Musiala and [Florian] Wirtz in top form – which we don’t have right now.
“If both of these things don’t change, we won’t last much longer. We used to have matches where we played poorly too – like against Algeria. But we were still able to win those bad games. I don’t think this current team has that in them.
“This is a group that gives everything. However, I don’t agree with the coach saying that [complacency] had absolutely nothing to do with it. You always have that in the back of your mind when you’ve already qualified. You can’t just block it out; it’s completely human. We are simply not a physical team.”
While Nagelsmann defended his players after rotating the squad, Podolski suggested the defeat could prove beneficial by forcing the team to refocus before the knockout rounds.
Podolski added, “Maybe a defeat like this is a good thing. To get a slap in the face. So that everyone says: ‘Alright, let’s calm down now.’ Maybe a loss like this does some good, so that everyone takes a moment to reflect in their own room. We shouldn’t just talk everything down now. Let’s push the boys.”
Despite their concerns, both former internationals remain optimistic about Germany’s chances if they can address their weaknesses and build momentum in the knockout phase.
Kroos concluded, “And I stand by my statement: I believe that if it comes to a match against France, if everything clicks, we can beat them.”
Germany will face Paraguay in the Round of 32 on Monday in Foxborough, with Nagelsmann expected to keep faith in the Musiala-Wirtz partnership.
Victory could set up a high-profile last-16 showdown with tournament favourites France, but Kroos believes improvements in defence and overall intensity are essential if Germany are to remain in contention.
