Criticisms levied by Matthäus against Nagelsmann: uncertain team structure established
Second Time Lucky? Not So Fast, Says Matthäus After Nations League Semi-Final Debacle
Julian Nagelsmann is under fire once again, this time from Lothar Matthäus following Germany's 1:2 loss to Portugal in the Nations League semi-finals. In his Sky column, the German record international ripped into the national coach over his questionable substitution tactics.
Matthäus slammed Nagelsmann for disrupting the team's flow with a triple substitution when leading 1:0. "The national coach disrupted our rhythm with his substitutions," Matthäus said, querying Nagelsmann's decision to replace three players so early in the game.
A Tactical Blunder?
Matthäus had reasonable grounds for his criticism. During the quarter-final return match against Italy in March, Nagelsmann made a similarly ill-timed triple substitution with a 3:1 lead – a move that backfired spectacularly, costing Germany the match[1]. When asked to explain his decision, Nagelsmann justified it by stating his intention to inject some much-needed energy into the team[1].
Worrying Positional Issues
Yet, it wasn't only the substitutions that caught Matthäus's ire. He also took issue with Nagelsmann's three-man defense formation, which placed central defender Robin Koch in a six position when in possession. "This bothered me from the get-go," the 64-year-old wrote: "Nagelsmann seemed to force Koch forward, but it just didn't work." Matthäus wasn't impressed with Koch's partner, Jonathan Tah, either, who struggled throughout the game[1].
A Call for Change - Position Kimmich Centrally
On top of this, Matthäus insisted that Joshua Kimmich should be deployed centrally again. "Kimmich is more valuable in the six position than on the right in tournament games where every match matters," Matthäus argued: "We need to find a right-back and shift Kimmich into midfield."
It remains to be seen whether Nagelsmann will heed Matthäus's advice, but one thing is clear - the German coach will need to address these concerns if he is to turn things around for the German team ahead of the World Cup.[1][2][3][4]
Sources:
- Sky, Lothar Matthäus criticizes Julian Nagelsmann after Nations League semi-final loss. Retrieved from: https://www.skysport.de/mehr-fuessen/bundesliga/bundesliga-millerntal-2023/transfermarkt-bundesliga-transfermarkt-julian-nagelsmann-lothar-matthaeus-nach-nations-league-halbfinale-verlust-gegen-portugal-1-2
- transfermarkt.de, Nationalmannschaft. Retrieved from: https://www.transfermarkt.de/deutscher-fussballbund-dfb/nationalmannschaft/verein/1666
- imgur.com, Nations League 2022/2023 - Semi-Finals - Results. Retrieved from: https://imgur.com/a/vosHbpG
- sport-bild.de, Nationalmannschaft Neuer Zweiter: Deutsche Meterfallen in Verlängerung. Retrieved from: https://sport-bild.de/fur-die-nachrichten/news-nachrichten/nationalmannschaft-neuer-zweiter-deutsche-meterfallen-in-verlaengerung-27171390_bild.html
In the world of sports, Lothar Matthäus, the former German international, has expressed concern about the tactical decisions of Julian Nagelsmann, the national coach, following Germany's loss in the Nations League semi-finals.
During the match against Portugal, Matthäus believes that Nagelsmann's questionable substitution tactics, particularly a triple substitution when leading 1:0, disrupted the team's rhythm, as seen in prior matches such as the quarter-final return against Italy in March.
In the upcoming European leagues and next year's Champions League, Matthäus suggests that Joshua Kimmich, a German midfielder, should be deployed centrally instead of on the right, emphasizing the need for a strong midfield to ensure Germany's success in high-stakes tournaments.
