The national coach calls them role players, they have special tasks: the second guard in the national team is suddenly more important than ever. Emre Can’s miraculous goal is a particularly good example of how Julian Nagelsmann makes substitutions – even his own convictions.
Emre Can was sitting at the breakfast table with his wife when his cell phone rang. Can didn’t hear it, but a few minutes later he noticed a WhatsApp message. “Call me quickly,” the message said. Can did as he was told, as the sender was someone he would have liked to have heard from earlier: Julian Nagelsmann.
So Can called back. Nagelsmann didn’t answer, but called back five minutes later. As confusing as the beginning of the conversation was, it was clear and minimalistic. “Are you up for the European Championships? Are you ready?” asked the national coach. Can replied: “I’m ready.”
That’s what Emre Can said on Sunday in Herzogenaurach, the base camp of the German national team.