At 04:30 CEST on June 30, ahead of the World Cup Round of 16 knockout match between Germany and Paraguay, Kai Havertz and head coach Julian Nagelsmann held a press conference.

Physical strength has been a major topic in recent days, including after matches against Ivory Coast and Ecuador a few months ago. You previously told Kicker that Goretzka had a good chance of playing a lot, but now he's playing very little. Is that due to his performance, or because others are performing too well?

I think Goretzka trains well and performs well when he comes on from the bench.

Regarding the substitutions in the Ecuador match, I've already explained my thinking after the game. It was a decision based on the specific match situation. If the score had been normal, we might have wanted more physical strength, but we weren't able to score. So we might not have made those substitutions. It's not about the substitutes, but about them having different characteristics that might not have been necessary in that game. And I also wanted to reward their excellent work in training.

Substitutions depend on the match situation—for example, if someone is injured or we need to score, we might adjust our tactics. Who comes on and when isn't just about individual players, but about the overall structure. As a coach, I have to assess every aspect I observe.

So far, Goretzka has performed well as a substitute and in training. Maybe tomorrow he'll get the chance and perform excellently. For every player not in the starting lineup right now, commitment is crucial.

Can you describe Paraguay's playing style?

They're a defensive team that tries to maintain a compact shape and control possession. Their organized attacking play is clear from recent matches—they press high and use deep areas well. With their strong defensive work and physical strength, we'll need to perform perfectly tomorrow.

Coach, what do you think about the turnaround time between our last match and tomorrow's? Is this the preparation time you wanted? And does having to wait to know our opponent affect us?

Normally, after a defeat, playing the next match as soon as possible is ideal. We have enough time to prepare for our opponent, and I hope we'll be ready tomorrow. If we'd won, the longer break would have been easier; but we lost to Ecuador, so every player is eager to play tomorrow. We all want to perform better than in the last game. With the 48-team World Cup format, the scheduling is complicated, but we have to deal with it like every other team—it's not a major issue.

Paraguay's coach said Germany has too many corner-kick strategies for him to prepare for in a single training session. Do you think that in this World Cup, where many teams play deep defensive formations against stronger opponents, successful set-piece play could have a major impact on how far a team can go?

Set pieces are always a good option—always dangerous to opponents and can create clear opportunities through good movement. I think the quality of the delivery is important, combined with good movement in the middle, which is hard to defend because defenders often hold position while attackers can move dynamically. Set pieces are always important. We discussed before the World Cup that due to the heat and pitch conditions, set pieces might be even more important than usual. Currently, I don't know the statistics, but if our set pieces create threats tomorrow, we'll be happy.

You mentioned considering tactical adjustments. Is this mainly about analyzing the specific opponent, analyzing what your own team lacked in previous games, or a general feeling that changes are needed in a crucial competition?

It's always a mix of all factors. Of course, we look at the opponent's characteristics, and we also look at what we lacked in the previous game or what could help each player get into better form. It's an overall combination. I think, especially when there's little time between matches and you can't completely predict the opponent, it's important to focus on your own performance and your own approach. At the same time, adjust those concepts so players feel comfortable, enabling them to keep the ball more in familiar threatening zones and play to their full potential. It's a mix of many factors.

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