DFB national coach
Julian Nagelsmann: “The senior national team has been on the ground in terms of sport for years”
Julian Nagelsmann: “We finally have to start working on football again”
© Federico Gambarini / DPA
In an interview, Julian Nagelsmann chose clear words to describe the state of the national team. It was “on the ground,” he said. The national coach also announced personnel consequences.
Almost four months before the home European Championship kicks off Julian Nagelsmann gave the national soccer team a disastrous report card and announced surprising personnel consequences for his tournament squad. “The senior national team has been on the rocks in terms of sport for years. Recently there has been nothing that could give us hope that we will reach the semi-finals,” said the national coach, who succeeded Hansi Flick at the DFB in September, in a statement Interview with the news magazine “Spiegel”.
After veteran Toni Kroos (34) announced his comeback, there will be unpleasant surprises for some professionals when nominating the European Championship squad. “We don’t have to invite ten new players, but one or two will definitely not be nominated who many people think will definitely be there,” said Nagelsmann.
Julian Nagelsmann: A change in mentality is needed
After the bitter test defeats in November against Turkey (2:3) and in Austria (0:2), a change in mentality must take place. “Against Austria we had seven or eight players on the pitch who are defined more by their special abilities as footballers and less by a special mentality. We have to change this distribution in the starting eleven,” said the 36-year-old without naming specific names .
Basically, after three tournament disappointments with the group knockout at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and the round of 16 exit at the 2021 European Championships, time is necessary to reflect. “We have to stop thinking about status. We tell ourselves that Germany is a top football nation, even though we have been experiencing failures for years. That’s not how we get back on the road to success. We have to finally start working on football again,” demanded Nagelsmann.
Before the tournament, the national coach wants to give each player a clear requirements profile. As an example, he cited the national basketball team, which sensationally became world champions last year. “They did an outstanding job and I will take on this clear distribution of roles. It is helpful if every player knows exactly where they stand,” said Nagelsmann. In addition to the return of Kroos, Joshua Kimmich has been moved from midfield to the right wing-back position.
The next opponents are France and the Netherlands
Basically, he doesn’t just define European Championship success by placement. “But I believe that if we play four or five good games, tear ourselves apart, but then are eliminated in the quarter-finals against a top nation, it can still be a good European Championship for football Germany,” said Nagelsmann.
The last international test matches before the squad nomination are on March 23rd in France and three days later in Frankfurt against the Netherlands.
Two more tests are planned immediately before the European Championships. At the tournament, the DFB team will face Scotland (June 14th), Hungary (June 19th) and Switzerland (June 23rd) as hosts in Group A.