Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has admitted his side lost composure during their international friendly against Ghana, acknowledging that impatience and tactical lapses allowed the Black Stars to grow into the game.
The four-time world champions secured a 2-1 victory over Ghana at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart on Monday evening, thanks to a late strike from forward Deniz Undav. The result ensured back-to-back wins for Germany during the March international break, following an earlier 4-3 triumph over Switzerland.
Despite the win, Nagelsmann expressed concern over his team’s performance, particularly after a strong start that failed to translate into a more comfortable result.
“The game started brilliantly from our perspective,” Nagelsmann said after the match. “If we maintain our tactical discipline, things go really well. We then became impatient because we were so desperate to score.”
According to the German tactician, that impatience disrupted the team’s structure and created vulnerabilities, especially when Ghana began to counter with pace and purpose.
“That led to too much freestyle play, and then we became too vulnerable to counter-attacks,” he added.
Germany dominated large portions of the first half and created several opportunities but struggled to convert their chances. Their attacking intent was evident, yet a lack of clinical finishing prevented them from putting the game beyond Ghana’s reach early on.
One of the key moments in the first half involved an effort from Florian Wirtz, who found the back of the net midway through the opening period. However, the goal was disallowed following a VAR review, which ruled that Nick Woltemade was in an offside position during the build-up.
Reflecting on that phase of the game, Nagelsmann insisted his side should have taken full advantage of their dominance.
“We should have scored two or three goals in the first half. In my opinion, we played better than against Switzerland,” he stated.
Ghana, however, remained resilient and capitalised on Germany’s inefficiencies. After falling behind, the Black Stars responded with determination and found an equaliser in the second half, exposing defensive gaps that Nagelsmann later criticised.
“The team sometimes makes things difficult for itself,” he noted. “It’s good that we always want to score, but it’s also enough if we score late. It’s just as important that we don’t concede two or three goals because we get caught on the counter-attack.”
Nagelsmann specifically pointed to Ghana’s equalising goal as an example of avoidable defensive lapses.
“The equaliser was far too easy; we shouldn’t concede that,” he said.
The match ultimately turned in Germany’s favour late on, with Deniz Undav stepping up to score the winner and seal the victory. However, the performance left Nagelsmann with mixed feelings, balancing the positive result with areas that require immediate improvement.
For Ghana, the match once again highlighted both promise and concern. While the Black Stars showed attacking quality and the ability to trouble a top European side, defensive organisation and consistency remain key issues that need to be addressed.
Germany, on the other hand, will take confidence from securing consecutive wins but are likely to focus on refining their tactical discipline and efficiency in front of goal as preparations continue for upcoming competitions.
Looking ahead, Germany have been drawn in Group E of the FIFA World Cup, where they will face Ivory Coast, Curacao, and Ecuador. The group presents a mix of experience and emerging competition, and Nagelsmann’s side will be expected to progress.
Ivory Coast, one of Africa’s strongest football nations and a regional rival to Ghana, will pose a significant challenge. Curacao, making their debut appearance, will aim to make an impact, while Ecuador bring South American flair and competitiveness to the group.
As preparations continue, Nagelsmann will be keen to ensure his team maintains discipline while improving their ability to control matches and convert scoring opportunities. The lessons from the Ghana encounter are likely to play a key role in shaping Germany’s approach in the months ahead.
For Ghana, attention now shifts to rebuilding confidence and translating promising performances into results. Despite recent setbacks, the Black Stars continue to demonstrate the attacking potential that makes them a formidable side on their day.
The encounter in Stuttgart served as a reminder of Ghana’s resilience and quality, even against one of the world’s most successful football nations.
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