Daijiworld Media Network - Boston

Boston, Jun 29: Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said only winning the World Cup can silence critics as his team prepares for a last-32 clash against Paraguay.

Germany reached the knockout stage as Group E winners after a dominant 7-1 victory over Curacao and a late 2-1 win against Ivory Coast. However, a defeat against Ecuador in their final group match has raised concerns over their ability to go deep into the tournament.

Even with a win against Paraguay on Monday near Boston, Germany could face a difficult last-16 tie against defending champions France.

"When you talk about the German national team, it is all about trying to win every game. It is all about winning the game tomorrow," Nagelsmann said during his pre-match press conference.

He said handling expectations required confidence, a clear plan and the ability to perform under pressure.

"It is all about winning in soccer. If you win, everything is perfect. If you lose, everything is bad. So we have to win tomorrow," he added.

Nagelsmann described Germany's defeat against Ecuador as "tactical suicide" despite his side taking an early lead.

Unlike some coaches who rested key players after securing qualification, Nagelsmann fielded an almost full-strength team in the final group match. He said he was confident the players would respond positively.

"We need a perfect performance tomorrow. When I looked at the training session, I can tell you that I'm very happy and the boys will bring their A-game tomorrow," he said.

Meanwhile, Arsenal forward Kai Havertz is expected to retain his place in Germany's attack despite Deniz Undav's impressive impact as a substitute, scoring three goals and providing two assists in the opening two matches.

Havertz said he enjoys playing on big occasions and is looking forward to his first knockout-stage World Cup appearance after Germany exited in the group stage in the previous two editions.

"I think in general I just like bigger occasions. I don't know why. I just feel comfortable," Havertz said.

He added that he hoped to continue performing on football's biggest stage.

Havertz scored twice in Germany's win over Curacao, but the attacking trio of Havertz, Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala — which impressed during Euro 2024 — is yet to reach full rhythm at the World Cup.

The three players have faced challenges, with Havertz and Musiala dealing with injury-hit seasons, while Wirtz struggled after his move to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen.

Havertz said the trio remains confident and is focused on improving.

"We are very close. We talk about what we could improve and what we could tweak. We really want to draw on our full potential," he said.

With the knockout stage underway, Germany will look to deliver a strong performance as they continue their pursuit of a record fifth World Cup title.