UNDER-FIRE Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann snapped at a female reporter but pleaded to cling on to his job.
The 38-year-old has been hammered for his side crashing out of the tournament to Paraguay, with key decisions like picking 40-year-old Manuel Neuer being criticised.
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The Germany boss is clinging to his job and sulking with reporters Credit: Getty
Lili Engels was only asking the questions her nation demand to ask
After the humbling penalty shoot-out flop, the struggling coach spent an age with his deflated players but then had to face up to 29-year-old ZDF reporter Lili Engels, who had plenty of valid questions about the shambles.
The referee and VAR took the brunt for disallowing Jonathan Tah’s extra-time header – a decision he branded a ‘scandal’ and a ‘joke’,
But Engels copped some heat too, when she probed Nagelsmann too many times for his liking.
The young manager said: “We had a very slow build-up play, it took ages to shift it from wing to wing.
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“At some point, we switched to a sort of brute-force approach, and then, yes, it was important to make the balls sharp into the box.
“We did get an equaliser. At some point, I think we had six or seven players above 6ft 2in on the pitch too and had 11 or 12 corners.
“We then score a goal from the latter which is a scandal as the referee blows his whistle to disallow it. I have no idea what he saw there. It’s truly a joke.
“But that’s how it is, it’s pointless to dwell on. We still have to settle and handle the game beforehand, and handle it differently, and we didn’t manage to do that.
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Asked again about Tah’s cancelled header goal, Nagelsmann barked: ‘I’m seeing it again right now.
“It’s not just a scandal, it’s an absolute scandal. That is not even remotely a foul play.’
Engels pressed on with the inquest as to why his side had folded so early and he sulked: “Yes, as I already said, our build-up play today was simply too slow.
And when she bravely touched on the topic for a third time, he said: “Yes, I just told you. The build-up play was too slow. I’ve already said that three times now.”
Former Liverpool boss Jurden Klopp was also at pitchside doing TV punditry and the country seems to be screaming out for him to take over.
But dogged Nagelsmann did not sound ready to walk away from the well-paid gig.
“I am available,” he said about plodding on. “If the DFB wants it, then I will do the Euro 2028, and if not then they have to tell me.
“I’m not someone who runs away.”
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IT’S A KNOCKOUT
The knockout stages of the World Cup are here, with many big sides still in the hunt for global glory.
England manager Thomas Tuchel is hoping to finally bring football home after a 60-year drought for the nation.
Powerhouse nations like France, Spain, Brazil and Argentina are all serious contenders for the biggest prize in sport.
However, heavyweights Germany and Netherlands have both been knocked out on penalties in the last-32!
Football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are showing no signs of slowing down, on what looks to be the pair’s final World Cup.
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