PRO
It is consistent not to choose informal players, says Oliver Müller
First of all: Everyone who points out that Julian Nagelsmann is taking a high risk by nominating his squad for the last two – and therefore extremely important – international matches before the European Championship squad is announced is right. And it’s also true that it’s pretty late for experiments in the final stretch of tournament preparation. Normally.
But firstly, the development of the national team in recent years and months can hardly be described as normal. In fact, there has been no development at all – neither in the leaden final years of the Joachim “Jogi” Löw era, nor under Hans-Dieter “Hansi” Flick, or in the almost six months in which Nagelsmann has been in charge. There were coaching changes, but there was always just a “keep it up”.
also read
Let’s finally be honest: The team that we had to assume would take part in this European Championship until these surprisingly radical decisions were announced gave us more fear than courage. Not because it was made up of bad footballers, but because it has disappointed us far too often. Because different tactical orientations and speeches didn’t change anything. Standstill at a low level.
Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav (l.) and Maximilian Mittelstädt are supposed to bring a breath of fresh air to the German national team
Source: dpa/Harry Langer
Secondly, what would have been the alternative? For example, if the national coach had ignored Deniz Undav, Maximilian Mittelstädt, Chris Führich and Waldemar Anton from VfB Stuttgart – he would have made himself untrustworthy. It would have been a devastating signal. Namely that the idea of performance doesn’t play a role. That it doesn’t matter whether professionals are weak or perform week after week and push themselves to their limits. The Stuttgart-based company has done the latter in recent months. Along with Bayer Leverkusen, VfB has written one of the few positive stories of the current Bundesliga season. And fortunately, in contrast to the league leaders, there are also many German players.
also read
It is logical to take this into account. It is just as consistent that players who have been left with fewer opportunities for a very long period of time are finally feeling this. The Bayern block has been shrunk to the size that is currently appropriate. And if, in Niclas Füllkrug, only one Dortmund player was brought in, that’s more than cheap.
The only question that legitimately arises is whether there is enough time to form a homogeneous team out of many new players. Nobody knows. However, one thing is clear: the national team can only play a convincing European Championship if their mentality is superior to the attitude of the competition. Only dreamers can count Germany among the favorites. Home advantage or not: The team will come from an outsider position after three disastrous tournaments. According to Jürgen Klopp’s old motto, it will be important to bring the opponents down to their own level in order to be able to compensate for deficits. This can only be achieved with the greatest possible unity and enthusiasm. The only real chance will be to “ignite” the crowd so much that it will be extremely uncomfortable to play against Germany. Nagelsmann recognized this, albeit a little late.
By the way: Even if this is what is currently being done, this is not yet the final European Championship squad. There is still time for all those who now feel left out to realize that they truly deserve it. No national coach would be stupid enough to leave a midfield strategist like Leon Goretzka or a skilled central defender like Niklas Süle at home if they were to perform at the top level for several months. You are welcome to start immediately.
It is exactly what a national coach has finally expressed so clearly that it can be understood.
CONTRA
It’s better not to experiment, says Julien Wolff
Just before the last tests before the squad nomination for the home European Championship, the national coach has a problem. A timing problem. The international matches against France and the Netherlands are so important for the mood and confidence in the team and among those interested in football in Germany that experiments are prohibited. These have happened far too often in recent years – although Nagelsmann himself doesn’t think the word experiment is appropriate, as he made clear this week.
Since the desolate 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the national coaches have failed to find the right balance between a well-rehearsed team and fresh talent for far too long – first Hans-Dieter “Hansi” Flick, then Nagelsmann. For the latter, a dilemma now arises that entails enormous risks.
On the one hand, Nagelsmann must accept the performance principle. The nomination of the newcomers for the games is understandable and correct – but six is (too) many. It is Nagelsmann’s bad luck that the Stuttgart team is playing so well in the Bundesliga now, and that the stars of FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund have disappointed so often in the past few months. Changes are good, but now they are also a risk. Nagelsmann’s radical restructuring of the squad is delicate. And can be viewed as a vote of no confidence by players who are not nominated.
The national coach high-fives Joshua Kimmich. Mats Hummels is out
Source: dpa/Christian Charisius
The national coach has appointed four Stuttgart players in striker Deniz Undav, defense professional Maximilian Mittelstädt, wing player Chris Führich and central defender Waldemar Anton, as well as wing player Jan-Niklas Beste from 1. FC Heidenheim and striker Maximilian Beier from TSG Hoffenheim. This means that the VfB block on this international trip is almost as big as the Bayern block. Dortmund only has one professional nominated in attacker Niclas Füllkrug; the coach has left out Mats Hummels, Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Süle, Emre Can and other professionals like Julian Brandt. Shortly before the European Championship, Nagelsmann breaks down hierarchies, before his third international trip it seems like the third new beginning. A risky approach.
There are only three months left until Germany opens the home tournament against Scotland in Munich. The European Championship is a historic opportunity for German football, which has fallen deeply into mediocrity in terms of the national team. None of the newly nominated professionals should play against France from the start – although they deserved it based on their performances at the club. But that should (not) be the sole concern now. The team finally needs a structure that is prepared for the tournament. A solid team must finally emerge with a functioning and reliable axis.
There is a lack of developed structure in the squad. Everyone must now clearly know their role for the European Championships. Anything else would be negligent. The coach must let the key players for the tournament feel his trust. It’s not about valuing achievements from past years (too) highly. It’s about experience and leadership qualities, about maturity, which is necessary for the EM level. The current form, the momentum that Nagelsmann often mentioned this week, is of course a very important, but not an all-important factor.
also read
Opinion both-and design
For Nagelsmann, his job is also at stake. In the event of significant defeats against France and the Netherlands, he would probably no longer be able to last until the European Championships. The national coach is now going all in. In Leon Goretzka, he has chosen Aleksandar Pavlovic without a physically extremely robust leader; Although Goretzka has impressed in recent games and Nagelsmann was considered his sponsor at FC Bayern.
Goretzka’s non-nomination is a big topic in the Bayern dressing room this week. At the European Championships, players are in demand who put themselves at the service of the team and who identify enormously with the national team. Everything applies to Goretzka. If he plays like he did last, he has to take part in the tournament.
The last three tournaments for the national team were bitter disappointments. There can be no home European Championships. It’s about a lot. The core team that Nagelsmann is relying on at the European Championships has to play against France. Anything else would be too much risk.
