Ticking Towards the World Cup: Nagelsmann Navigates Challenges as National Coach
Coach Nagelsmann encounters his initial misstep in his leadership role
https://www.ntv.de/
With the FIFA World Cup just a year away, national coach Julian Nagelsmann doesn't have much time to tackle pressing concerns, and the upcoming match against France takes on added significance.
Nagelsmann steps into a familiar territory: last seen in the Stuttgart football arena, following a heartbreaking exit against Spain in the European Champions a year prior. He now brings Pascal Groß along as his companion. The event culminated in a narrow 1:2 loss after extra time, marking the end of the World Cup dreams for Toni Kroos. Nagelsmann delivered a lengthy speech on unity in his team and the country, aiming to win the World Cup in two years' time.
Fast forward to today, Nagelsmann discusses the Nations League third-place play-off (3:00 PM/RTL, DAZN and in the ntv.de live ticker) and the French national football team. He emphasizes the ten central defenders playing at a similar level in France, calling it "brutal in terms of performance density."
A Step Forward Already
Despite the lush greenery on the other side, the quest for solutions within one's own ranks is relatively modest. Before the Nations League final tournament, national coach Nagelsmann deliberately refrained from using the numerous absences in the German team as a excuse, but they did significantly limit his options for squad selection. The list of absentees almost fills an entire starting eleven: Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Antonio Rüdiger, Angelo Stiller, Nico Schlotterbeck, Tim Kleindienst, Yann Aurel Bisseck.
This fact alone makes the German team's current dream of French conditions highly unlikely. "We don't have any central defenders who can run 36 km/h," says Nagelsmann. He doesn't have the power to perform miracles, so no one will magically appear by kick-off who can sprint at that speed. Instead, Nagelsmann must adapt his tactics. Avoiding giving the lightning-fast French "free feet" is essential in the third-place play-off.
Addressing Question Marks
The challenges Nagelsmann faces go beyond the missing key players. There are deeper questions lurking beneath the surface: who will occupy the vital central midfield positions? Quarter-finalists in the Euro Championship, Nagelsmann's central axis remains a work in progress. The duo of Aleksandar Pavlović and Stiller, once hailed as the future of the midfield, now face uncertainties. Stiller's injury and courtship from Real Madrid, coupled with Pavlović's limited match practice due to recent absences, leave Nagelsmann with limited options.
Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka are a few of the potential players for the central midfield positions:
- Joshua Kimmich: Versatile and a proven leader
- Leon Goretzka: A dynamic force in both defense and attack
Felix Nmecha and Pascal Groß also offer additional options to Nagelsmann due to their adaptability and versatility. Tom Bischof, a promising young talent, is another name to consider for future central midfield roles.
Nagelsmann has less than a year to resolve questions regarding the central midfield and other crucial positions in the German team before the World Cup qualifiers begin in September.
Moreover, there is a change in the coaching team: after 23 games, assistant Sandro Wagner is leaving to become the head coach of FC Augsburg himself. Benjamin Hübner, Nagelsmann's former captain from Hoffenheim, will take over as his confidant.
Ahead lies the challenge of the upcoming match against France. The third-place play-off barely a week before the holidays might appear to be a motivation issue, but Nagelsmann remains confident. His faith in the team is unwavering: "It's still the German football A-national team," says Nagelsmann. "If I always have to motivate them in the locker room, then I need to change something about the team."
Sources:
- [1] ntv.de
- [2] www.kicker.de
- [3] www.bundesliga.com
- [4] www.dfb.de
- [5] www.sportschau.de
Keywords:
- Football national team
- Football
- DFB
- Julian Nagelsmann
- Football World Cup 2026
- Central Midfield
- Joshua Kimmich
- Leon Goretzka
- Felix Nmecha
- Pascal Groß
- Tom Bischof
The national coach, Julian Nagelsmann, faces a plethora of challenges as he navigates the employment policy within his football team, particularly in the central midfield positions. With key players like Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka, as well as upcoming talents like Tom Bischof, Nagelsmann must devise an effective employment strategy to ensure a strong midfield performance for the upcoming World Cup. Meanwhile, the German football team eagerly anticipates their sports endeavor against France, a match that promises stiff competition due to the high level of French athletes in sports such as football.
