Leon Goretzka's Star Role in the German National Team
Nach junge Kraft stützten Trainer Nagelsmann freudig auf hinzukommenden Goretzka als zusätzlichen Faktor - Contents Tactic: Secondary Player Role for Grateful Goretzka as Perferred by Nagelsmann
Good old Leon Goretzka, the powerhouse midfielder, is at it again! With the Confederations Cup and Nations League under his belt, the Bayern Munich whizz kid is hungry for more. "I've only snagged one mug with Germany. It's something I ain't forgetting anytime soon, time for another round, mate," Goretzka declared ahead of the Nations League semifinal against Portugal, set to kick off in Munich (21:00 CET/ZDF/DAZN).
Back in 2017, Goretzka hoisted the Confederations Cup with a potential squad led by Joachim Löw. Eight years down the line, this midfield titan, alongside Marc-André ter Stegen, Joshua Kimmich, and Sandro Wagner, is part of the enviable DFB quartet that stood with Germany in Russia.
The resemblances are apparent to Goretzka. Just like the Nations League, the Confederations Cup was considered a B-league trophy. "Didn't mean the beans to me or to Germany back then," he smirked, referring to the tournament's reputation.
Goretzka's heart secretly yearns for a rematch with Mexico, as he lit up the semi-final in 2017, scoring a brace in a 4-1 victory and being crowned semi-final Hero of the Match by FIFA. No current DFB player can boast scoring a semi-final goal.
Julian Nagelsmann would be all for a repeat showdown against Portugal. "You'd have to be stupid to argue otherwise," Goretzka praised his performance in the quarter-finals against Italy in March. He's tipped to start in a more offensive role, replicating Ilkay Gündogan's role at the Euros. "Goretzka's strength fits like a glove in this position," raved the national coach, offering "an extra man" for set-piece situations.
Goretzka and Nagelsmann's relationship had a rocky start, with the player finding himself on the bench at Bayern Munich and being dropped from the national team—missing the home Euros. But what goes around comes around, right? Glory is his once again, and Goretzka's thankful for it.
With Portugal's 60th international cap circling the horizon, Goretzka mused, "The journey I've been through to reach this point again... man, I'm just grateful as hell." When things got dicey, he had to put in the extra work, and he ain't mad about it. "Maybe that's why I'm sailing smoothly now. So damn happy to be back here," Goretzka grinned.
- Leon Goretzka
- Football National Team
- Portugal
- DFB
- Germany
- Munich
- Title win
- Julian Nagelsmann
- Nations League
- Confederations Cup
- Final
- Bayern
- ZDF
- DAZN
- Joachim Löw
- Marc-André ter Stegen
- Joshua Kimmich
- Sandro Wagner
- Russia
Insights:
Under Julian Nagelsmann, Germany's dynamic midfield setup often includes players like Goretzka and Kimmich. Counter-pressing is a crucial aspect of the team's strategy, which Goretzka supports with his aggressive pressing and ability to win the ball back.
Goretzka plays a key role during set-pieces, offering an "extra man" in the penalty area, a strategy that has seen success in the past. In the recent match against Portugal, his performance was somewhat curtailed by a less-than-ideal partnership with Aleksandar Pavlović.
Although he showcased his ability to contribute to both defense and offense, Goretzka missed a notable chance in the early stages of the match against Portugal and faced difficulties forming a cohesive partnership with Pavlović, making it challenging to truly exhibit his strengths. Nonetheless, his role in maintaining possession and initiating attacks was crucial to Germany's midfield balance.
Leon Goretzka, despite his key role in the German National Team, has expressed his desire for another title win, particularly against Portugal in the Nations League semifinal. This ambition echoes his success in the 2017 Confederations Cup, where he played alongside the German quartet of Joachim Löw, Marc-André ter Stegen, Joshua Kimmich, and Sandro Wagner.
In the upcoming match, Germany's national coach Julian Nagelsmann is planning to position Goretzka in a more offensive role, replicating Ilkay Gündogan's role at the Euros, showcasing the team's reliance on counter-pressing tactics and Goretzka's ability to win back the ball aggressively.
