Timo Werner believes Germany can go on and lift the FIFA World Cup, despite suffering a 1-0 defeat to Group F rivals Mexico in the opening game of their title defence.
Germany now face a must-win game against Sweden on 23 June, and will likely have to beat South Korea in their final group outing to keep alive their dream of becoming the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups – but Werner insists the defending champions have no reason to panic
“Of course we can still win the World Cup,” the RB Leipzig and Germany striker said. “We are Germany and we want to win every game. Things like this can happen, you can lose a game, but you have to show a reaction as quickly as possible and find the best way forward.”
“It is better to lose the first game than the fourth or fifth,” he said. “Spain lost their first match at the World Cup in South Africa [to Switzerland] and ended up being champions. Now what we have to do is win the next match against Sweden.”