National team
Nagelsmann’s EM list: contract, personnel, opponents
DFB sports director Rudi Völler (l) and national coach Julian Nagelsmann come to a dinner as part of the national coaches’ European Championship workshop in the Ständehaus. photo
© Marius Becker/dpa
After meeting many other European Championship coaches, Julian Nagelsmann is pushing ahead with the tournament plans. Personnel selection and opponent analysis take up a lot of space. A personal concern remains present.
Less than nine weeks more, the ball will be rolling for the national soccer team at the home tournament with the opening game against Scotland in Munich on June 14th. The UEFA workshop made Nagelsmann realize: Time is flying by and the tasks are challenging, even after the encouragement in France (2:0) and against the Netherlands (2:1).
The contract
Nagelsmann tried to put the topic of his professional future on the back burner. “Nothing new,” was the national coach’s core message about a possible new DFB contract or the club change that he himself had raised as an option. Nagelsmann assures that he will be honest about the issue and will play with open cards. But this does not make the case silent. Nagelsmann will be asked about it until it is clarified in whichever direction, whether it is called FC Bayern Munich, a top international club or a national team until the 2026 World Cup. And at every opportunity.
The staff
Nagelsmann was spot on with his courageous decisions for returning Toni Kroos and several promising players in his March squad. And this framework is now in place, challengers and discarded players like Mats Hummels have to hope for an acute decline in form among the chosen ones.
But new discussions are possible. Should UEFA increase the squad size from 23 to 26 players, Nagelsmann would have three more places in the squad. Theoretically. Because the national coach left it open whether he would even use it. He calls his approach “cadre hygiene.” This means: too many players without a stake are a risk to sentiment. Shortly before the cup final, probably on May 23rd, the national coach wants to name his squad. Changes are then possible until June 7th.
The opponents
As Nagelsmann spoke in the Düsseldorf conference hotel, Murat Yakin looked over relaxedly from a few meters away. The Swiss national coach spoke of the special feeling of being able to play the last group game against the European Championship hosts on June 23rd in Frankfurt.
The national coach also focuses on the first three opponents, paying particular attention to opening opponents Scotland – this time the British are better than their reputation for toughness and fighting strength, their 4-0 defeat against the Netherlands was a deceptive result. The third group opponent that needs to be watched closely is Hungary.