Lahm: Germany’s identity crisis cost them at World Cup 2026

Philipp Lahm has laid the blame for Germany’s third consecutive World Cup group-stage exit squarely at the feet of tactical drift and a missing national identity. The 2014 World Cup-winning captain argued that Julian Nagelsmann’s experimental approach stripped the Mannschaft of the cohesive playing style that once defined them. Germany’s 1-0 defeat to Japan in their final group game at World Cup 2026 sealed their fate, marking the first time the four-time champions failed to advance past the group stage in consecutive tournaments.