Sentul, Bogor - Two consecutive wins secured by Germany at the 2026 World Cup have begun shifting the views of many analysts on Die Mannschaft. Following their 7-1 victory over Curaçao and comeback 2-1 win against Ivory Coast, the squad led by Julian Nagelsmann is widely judged to be showing promising development. Yet one major question still remains: has Germany truly re-established itself as a legitimate world title contender?
This question became one of the core topics on the ITSMe World Cup analysis podcast, hosted by Gilang Respaty and Yatna from the ITSMe Studio in Sentul, Bogor. Joined by Football analysts Ronny Pangemanan and Haris Pardede (known as Bung Harpa), the discussion reviewed Germany's strengths, weaknesses, and tournament prospects ahead of the knockout stage.
Ronny Pangemanan assessed that the victory over Ivory Coast served as a genuine mental test for Germany. Unlike the largely one-sided match against Curaçao, this second fixture forced Die Mannschaft to withstand pressure after going behind early in the game.
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According to Pangemanan, this scenario provided a far more accurate reflection of the team's current condition. At the two previous World Cup editions, Germany regularly struggled to react under pressure when matches did not play out as planned. This time around, they demonstrated a very different response by turning the game around and securing the win.
One player who has drawn significant attention is Deniz Undav. The substitute striker proved the difference maker, scoring both goals against Ivory Coast. Pangemanan described Undav as a game changer that adds an entirely new dimension to Germany's attack when the team requires an in-match solution.
Bung Harpa shared this assessment. He cited Undav's impact as proof that Germany possesses very strong squad depth. Even when starting players are struggling, there are options coming off the bench capable of shifting the momentum of a match. This factor is considered one of Die Mannschaft's main strengths so far through the tournament.
Even so, Harpa noted there are still several areas that require attention. Most notably, the continued deployment of Joshua Kimmich at right back. He observed that this position was repeatedly put under pressure by Ivory Coast's fast wingers, creating a potential vulnerability when facing stronger opponents.
At the same time, Kimmich is still regarded as a critical figure within the squad. His experience, leadership, and composure are noted as key factors that help maintain balance in Germany's on-pitch play.
Pangemanan also highlighted the distinctive character of Antonio Rüdiger. The Real Madrid defender is known for his expressive, occasionally emotional style of play. This personality makes him stand out on the pitch, in clear contrast to the calmer, more measured approach of Kimmich.
Having already secured qualification for the knockout stage, Nagelsmann is expected to utilise Germany's final group match against Ecuador to rotate his squad. As well as giving playing time to fringe players, this move will also be important to preserve the fitness of first team regulars ahead of much more demanding fixtures.
Despite Germany's positive performance trend, Harpa warned that the team is yet to be fully tested. He stated that the true measure of Die Mannschaft's strength will only become apparent once they face elite world national teams during the knockout phase.
Germany has indeed begun to rediscover the playing identity that had been missing for the past several years. However, the road to lifting the world title remains long. While the win against Ivory Coast demonstrated clear mental progress and squad depth, upcoming clashes against powerhouse sides such as France, England or Argentina will ultimately prove whether this German revival is genuine.
Germany's tournament form, the impact of Deniz Undav, and their knockout stage prospects were all central topics covered on the ITSMe World Cup podcast featuring Ronny Pangemanan and Haris Pardede, hosted by Gilang Respaty and Yatna from ITSMe Studio, Sentul, Bogor.
