Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann offered words of encouragement to goalkeeper Manuel Neuer following the 2-1 defeat to Ecuador in the final group stage match at the World Cup on Thursday.
"It's extremely frustrating for Manu once again that he hasn't yet had that winning moment. The shots were all nasty," Nagelsmann said after the match.
Neuer hesitated in the second goal, which came off a corner, before forward Gonzalo Plata scored to make it 2-1.
The goalkeeper himself emphatically denied that it was his mistake that led to Ecuador's winning goal.
"Absolutely not," he said when asked about the situation.
"Every goalkeeper who's ever played knows that I have to position myself that way toward the ball. It's like when a player goes for the ball, one just gets there a toe's length before the other."
Neuer's former Bayern Munich and Germany team-mate Bastian Schweinsteiger also refused to blame the 40-year-old for the second goal.
"It's extremely difficult for the goalkeeper to react in that situation. When there are so many players in front of the goalkeeper, there's not much you can do," he said on ARD, where he's serving as TV pundit during the World Cup.
Germany defender Jonathan Tah added: "In the end, we're all in the box and could have reacted a bit faster. You shouldn't read too much into the goal."
Neuer's surprising return to the national team after he had retired in 2024 sparked controversy. Hoffenheim's Oliver Baumann, who was the starting goalkeeper in the World Cup qualifiers, was demoted to the number two spot shortly before the main tournament.
Since the World Cup title in Rio de Janeiro in 2014, Neuer has conceded at least one goal in all nine World Cup matches. His next chance to keep a clean sheet will come in the round of 32 on Monday but Germany's opponent is yet to be determined.
"We need to stay a little calmer and not feel the need to score a goal on every play," Nagelsmann said.
