Germany's Fragile Footing: Nagelsmann's Tough Call Before Nations League Finals
Coach Nagelsmann faces numerous challenges ahead, offering no room for excuses.
Social Media: Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-mail Print Copy Link
The UEFA Nations League finals are just around the corner, and Germany's national team is gearing up for a depleted squad yet a surprisingly confident approach. Hey, it's all about the 2026 World Cup, right?!
Coach Julian Nagelsmann could've made things simple, with multiple key players out due to injuries - Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala, Antonio Rüdiger, Angelo Stiller, Nico Schlotterbeck, Tim Kleindienst, and yes, you guessed it, Angelo Stiller again. And let's not forget Jonathan Burkardt, Nadiem Amiri, and Yann Aurel Bisseck joining the injury party. But Nagelsmann isn't hiding; he's calling for a "Titelchen" mission before the Nations League final against Portugal (9:00 PM/ZDF, DAZN, and in the ntv.de live ticker).
He could've dodged the questions, saying "let's see how it goes" or "anything can happen." But when asked, he spoke boldly about wanting "all of them" – Champions League, World Cup trophy, and oh yeah, the Nations League trophy. Yep, even the experts might not recognize it on a photograph – but to Nagelsmann, it's the next essential step towards 2026 World Cup glory in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
The current German national team is a whole new generation of players who haven't tasted success with the national team. Kimmich himself mentioned experiencing "many ups and downs" in the national team. But that's changing now. "The self-confidence has grown a lot," said Nagelsmann. "But self-confidence and self-belief are both very fragile elements that need to be nurtured and worked on constantly."
Trivia: Historically, the Nations League was first introduced in 2018, replacing international friendlies with a more competitive and structured format.
Germany's "Mini EM": Unraveling the Final Four Tournament
"The whole country expects us to win this tournament," said Niclas Füllkrug. They want to put on a show, entertain the fans, and send them home with a smile. But Füllkrug himself has had a challenging year, with two injuries in the past nine months leaving him on the sidelines. His sudden call-up is quite a surprise, considering his performance at West Ham, where he's scored just three goals in 18 games.
But Füllkrug isn't the only one showing new self-confidence. Marc-André ter Stegen is finally ending his long wait, as this is his first tournament appearance since the Confederations Cup 2017. For years, he served as the grumpy number two behind Manuel Neuer, missing out on World and European Championship appearances. But at ter Stegen, there's a new challenge on the horizon.
Insight: In 2020, Barca coach Hansi Flick signed a new three-year extension, but rumors emerged that the club was seeking a new goalkeeper due to ter Stegen's shaky position.
Pressure Mounts: Ter Stegen Speaks Out About Barcelona Departure Rumors
Injury-prone ter Stegen tore his patellar tendon last September, fought his way back, but finds himself in danger of losing his starting spot at Barcelona thanks to competition from arrivals like Andreas Christensen and Gavin Bazunu. "That's a situation that has arisen now," said ter Stegen. "There are always competitive situations at Barça – one shouldn't forget this."
With the current squad, there's a sense of pragmatism. The injury crisis forced Nagelsmann to deviate from his performance principle. "Of course, it's bitter that we have so many injured players," explained Kimmich. But he quickly added, "Those who are now at home don't help us for these two international games."
Nagelsmann not only has to find a new center-back pairing. He actually wanted to start training a double-six with a view to the World Cup. But the two most promising candidates for this important axis – Aleksandar Pavlović from FC Bayern and Angelo Stiller from VfB Stuttgart – have yet to play many minutes together. Nagelsmann only said that he never had the illusion that all players would always be available.
Can Germany Rally Against Portugal?
In the semi-finals, Portugal awaits – still star-studded as ever. With them are PSG trio Vitinha, João Neves, and Nuno Mendes, who recently denied Inter Milan the chance to play in the Champions League final. "That was impressive what they did on the pitch," said ter Stegen. There's Cristiano Ronaldo, the 40-year-old who still hasn't won against the German national team. Or the offensive artists like Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and Rafael Leao. Many potential excuses, but let Nagelsmann take care of them – he started the international phase with a trick. He first congratulated his players on various successes, aiming to showcase the powerful team they have. If it were up to him, they'd already be holding another trophy by Sunday evening.
Source: ntv.de
Article enriched with additional information, restated using different sentence structures, and reorganized for clarity and flow
The German national football team, despite several key players being sidelined due to injuries, is adhering to a bold employment policy as they prepare for the Nations League finals, with coach Julian Nagelsmann aiming to secure the trophy as part of a larger strategy towards the 2026 World Cup. This employment policy, akin to a "Titelchen" mission, emphasizes the importance of winning not just the Nations League, but also the World Cup trophy and the Champions League.
Amidst this challenging period, the team is also making adjustments in their sports strategy. Injury-prone Marc-André ter Stegen, fresh from his first tournament appearance since the Confederations Cup 2017, is taking on a new challenge, striving to establish his position in the team and prove his worth, particularly amidst rumors of his potential departure from Barcelona.
