Playing on Shaky Ground: Nagelsmann's Unyielding Ambition for the Nations League Title
Coach Nagelsmann faces plenty of scrutiny, with no room for excuses.
The Nations League finals are upon us, and the German national team is stepping onto the pitch with a significant depletion of crucial players, yet an undeniable swagger. The ultimate target? The 2026 World Cup.
Julian Nagelsmann, our fearless coach, could have taken the easy route with a slew of absences, including faithful players like Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala, Antonio Rüdiger, Angelo Stiller, Nico Schlotterbeck, Tim Kleindienst, and Jonathan Burkardt. However, Nagelsmann is bound and determined to go on the offensive—in more ways than one.
Nagelsmann could have opted for the "let's see how it goes" approach or said that anything could happen against Europe's elite. But when grilled by a local paper about the titles he'd most like to win, he simply responded, "All of them." When pressed for specifics, he mentioned the Champions League, the World Cup, and, surprisingly, the Nations League trophy.
In the grand scheme of things, Nagelsmann sees this competition as a stepping stone toward the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, regardless of the title's modest stature. This team houses an entire generation of players who have yet to taste victory with the national team. Even captain Joshua Kimmich admitted that he has known nothing but "ups and downs" with the team but that all of that is changing now. "The self-confidence has grown significantly," Nagelsmann explained. "But self-confidence and self-belief are both very fragile elements that need to be nurtured and worked on continuously."
"All or Nothing" Mentality
If success is the goal, then our squad is more than up for the challenge, even with the deck stacked against them. Take Niclas Füllkrug, who's had a rocky year with two injuries in the past nine months. His nomination is surprising, considering his three goals in just 18 games for West Ham. But Füllkrug is not the only one exuding newfound confidence. Marc-André ter Stegen is finally getting his chance to guard the German goal in a tournament for the first time since the Confederations Cup 2017. Ter Stegen, who tore his patellar tendon last September, has fought his way back, only to face more rumors about his future at Barcelona.
Nagelsmann and company can spin this yarn for days: DFB sporting director Rudi Völler's predictions for a "very big career" for Nick Woltemade if he improves his heading game, Florian Wirtz's champions league spirit, the contract back-and-forth with Leroy Sané, and more.
Yet, these usual distractions seem to fade away amidst the pragmatic spirit of this team that's been forced to adapt to Nagelsmann's strict performance principle. "Of course, it's bitter that we have so many injured players," concedes Kimmich. "But those who are at home won't help us for the two international matches."
It seems Nagelsmann has taken it upon himself to find new defensive partners in the absence of the regulars. He's looking for a dynamic double six with an eye on the World Cup, but finding the perfect pair has proven challenging with key players out. Nevertheless, Nagelsmann insists that he never envisioned all players would be consistently available.
The Lions of Portugal Await
Next up is the semifinal against the star-studded Portuguese team, who boast a formidable lineup: the PSG trio of Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Nuno Mendes, who recently eliminated Inter Milan from the Champions League final; Cristiano Ronaldo, who remains winless against the German team; and offensive dynamos like Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and Rafael Leao. Many possible excuses.
Instead of finding excuses, Nagelsmann has adopted a proactive approach by congratulating his national players on their various successes before international matches. In his mind, Germany is a powerhouse team with the potential to add another trophy to their collection by Sunday evening.
Sources:
- ntv.de
- Schwabische Zeitung
- SPORT1
Tags:- Football- DFB- Football national team- Nations League- Munich- Portugal
- Despite the ongoing injury crisis in the German national team, Julian Nagelsmann has maintained an "All or Nothing" mentality, expressing his desire to win not only the Champions League and the World Cup, but also the Nations League title.
- With the semifinals of the Nations League approaching against the formidable Portuguese team, Nagelsmann has shown support for his players, congratulating them on their individual successes, reaffirming his belief in the team's potential to add another trophy to their collection.
