Neuer takes no blame after "thankless situation"

Germany suffered a 2-1 defeat against Ecuador in their last group match (to the match report >>>).

Sane put his nation ahead in the second minute, but the goal was highly controversial and caused a stir. During the build-up, Aleksandar Pavlović had his foot at head height with Ecuador's Pedro Vite, yet the goal was allowed.

Outcry over Germany goal: "Decision is a joke" >>>

In the ninth minute, the team conceded the equaliser through Angulo, and it got even worse. About 15 minutes before the end of the match (77'), Plata scored the 2-1 with a header from a corner.

Neuer under criticism after 2-1

Manuel Neuer was beaten, but then faced criticism. He stressed that he does not see himself at fault. He said he acted correctly. "I have to look at what's happening in front of me, where the ball is and what's happening with the ball. If I start flapping at balls at nipple-height in the five-yard box, it might have been an own goal, so definitely not," said the goalkeeper.

The 40-year-old explained that it was a normal header flick-on, adding: "Every goalkeeper who has played before knows that I have to position myself like that for the ball and try to catch it like that." According to him, the ball could have been flicked on anywhere.

Nagelsmann: "We have to defend differently"

Coach Nagelsmann also spoke out after the match against Ecuador and cleared his protégé of any blame: "The first ball was incredibly difficult; it went through the legs before that. For the second goal, it's extremely difficult to react. The ball is flicked on at the near post, and the player comes from behind him. That was a thankless situation; we have to defend that differently."

A bitter pill for the goalkeeper: Throughout the entire World Cup, he was called upon seven times, four shots ended up in the net, and he didn't keep a clean sheet in any match.

The situation in video: