Nagelsmann's Shorthanded German Squad Takes on Nations League Final with Confidence
Coach Nagelsmann faces high expectations, no room for excuses.
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link With several key players sidelined, a depleted German national team, fueled by self-confidence, steps into the Nations League finals, eager to bring home the trophy.
Julian Nagelsmann could easily play it safe, hiding behind excuses like, "Let's see how it goes," or "We're facing Europe's top, anything can happen." But that's not Nagelsmann's style. Asked about his preferred title by a school newspaper in Herzogenaurach, he openly admitted, "All of them." And the Nations League, believe it or not, is on that list[3].
With Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala, Antonio Rüdiger, and others out due to injuries, the odds might seem stacked against Germany. Yet, Nagelsmann and his crew remain unfazed[1]. They're not just eager – they're title-chasing[3].
The New Generation of German Football
The current German national team consists of players who haven't known much success with the national team. Even captain Joshua Kimmich admitted to experiencing "many ups and downs" in the DFB team[3]. But that's all changing now. "The self-confidence has grown significantly," said Nagelsmann. And that confidence, while fragile, is vital for success[3].
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That's the theory. In practice, the learning process is evident. Niclas Füllkrug, for example, has had a difficult year. Injuries kept him out of the national team for the past nine months, and his nomination now is somewhat surprising. But Füllkrug, like many others on the team, is brimming with newfound self-confidence[1].
Another player who welcomes a long-awaited return is Marc-André ter Stegen. For the first time since the Confederations Cup 2017, he can guard the German goal in a tournament[1]. He's a seasoned professional, and his experience, coupled with that of newcomers like Nick Woltemade and Tom Bischof, will be essential for the team's success[3,2].
Sport "Increases the pressure" Nagelsmann doesn't want to mention Portugal's horror series Ter Stegen knows about the pressures of performance all too well. He tore his patellar tendon last September and fought his way back from the severe knee injury. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick only played him twice - and rumors today suggest that his club is looking for a new goalkeeper. "That's a situation that has arisen now," said ter Stegen[1].
This game can be spun much longer: DFB sports director Rudi Völler predicts a "very big career" for Nick Woltemade if he improves his heading game[3]. Florian Wirtz's contract back and forth with Leroy Sané is presumably irrelevant[1]. However, the story doesn't end there.
Up Against the Star-studded PSG
Normally, such topics would be unsettling factors. But the current DFB squad seems to have adapted to handle the adversity. "It's bitter that we have so many injured players," said DFB captain Kimmich[3]. Still, he admitted: "Those who are now at home are not helping us for the two international matches."
Nagelsmann won't just need to find a new central defensive duo. He wants to start training a double six with a perspective on the World Cup. However, the two most promising candidates, Aleksandar Pavlovic from FC Bayern and Angelo Stiller from VfB Stuttgart, have hardly played together[3]. To make matters more complex, Portugal is waiting in the semi-final, fielding a powerhouse team like Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and the PSG trio: Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Nuno Mendes[1].
A Fight for the Title
With all these challenges, Nagelsmann has chosen to approach the match phase with a bit of trickery. He congratulated his DFB professionals on various successes to showcase "what kind of powerful team we have," despite the dropouts[1]. If they could pull off a win against Portugal and continue on in the tournament, it would surely boost their confidence and morale[3].
- Football
- DFB
- German national football team
- Nations League
- Injuries
- Portugal
Enrichment Data:
- The Nations League finals are a four-team tournament that includes Germany, Portugal, The Netherlands, and Italy. The format is a single-elimination bracket, with the winners of the semi-finals playing for the title.
- Italy will face the Netherlands in one of the semi-finals at Stuttgart's Mercedes-Benz Arena on June 10, while Germany hosts Portugal at Munich's Allianz Arena on the same day. The winners of each match will advance to the final in Milan on June 11.
- The German national team, despite being depleted due to injuries, has shown a surprising level of self-confidence. This confidence, while fragile, could be a crucial factor in their performance in the Nations League finals.
The German national football team, having faced multiple injuries, still maintains a firm employment policy, instilling confidence in every member, with each player eager to demonstrate their skills on the pitch. In their upcoming match against Portugal in the Nations League finals, they aim to showcase their title-chasing potential within the sport.
With positions left vacant due to injuries, coach Nagelsmann intends to use this opportunity to train a double six with an eye on the World Cup, potentially pairing Alexsandar Pavlovic from FC Bayern and Angelo Stiller from VfB Stuttgart, even though they have minimal experience playing together.
