A Scathing Critique from Lothar Matthäus: Nagelsmann's Mistakes in the Nations League Semi-Final
Criticizes Nagelsmann for creating team instability: Matthäus
In an unceremonious slam against Julian Nagelsmann following Germany's 1-2 defeat to Portugal in the Nations League semi-final, Lothar Matthäus, the legendary German footballer, hasn't held back. According to Matthäus, the DFB coach made embarrassing tactical errors that unsettled the team, particularly with his timing and method of substitutions [1].
Triple substitution at the hour mark, with Niclas Füllkrug, Robin Gosens, and Serge Gnabry coming in, disrupted the rhythm of the German game, according to Matthäus. The veteran player questioned Nagelsmann's decision to substitute three players at once so shortly after taking the lead. Prior to this, in the Italy quarter-final rematch back in March, Nagelsmann had faced a similar criticism when he made three substitutions with a 3-1 lead, which didn't fare well for the team [2].
Matthäus wasn't only critical of the substitutions. He found the tactical strategy of the three-man chain in defense with Robin Koch agitating. Koch, skipping his natural position as a central defender, was supposed to move to the six position when in possession, a move that, according to Matthäus, unraveled [3]. Unfortunately, Jonathan Tah didn't have a good game.
Recently, there has been an ongoing debate about Joshua Kimmich's perfect position on the field. Matthäus championed Kimmich's reposition in the central six position, deeming it much more crucial for Kimmich to contribute to the midfield rather than playing as a right-back, especially during crucial tournaments where every game matters [4].
Kimmich's leadership in the team is indisputable, as he aspires to bring home significant titles like the Nations League before the 2026 World Cup [5]. Despite Matthäus's criticism, it remains to be seen whether Nagelsmann will make necessary adjustments for the team's future performances.
In the wake of Germany's defeat to Portugal in the Nations League semi-final, Lothar Matthäus critiqued Julian Nagelsmann's tactical decisions, particularly concerning the timing and impact of triple substitutions, such as the one made with Niclas Füllkrug, Robin Gosens, and Serge Gnabry [1]. During the same tournament, Nagelsmann had faced similar criticism for his substitution choices in the Italy quarter-final rematch [2]. Matthäus also voiced concerns over the effectiveness of the three-man chain defense and Robin Koch's unconventional role in it [3]. Moreover, Matthäus advocated for Joshua Kimmich to play in a central six position during crucial tournaments for his midfield contributions [4]. Kimmich aims to lead the team to titles like the Nations League before the 2026 World Cup [5], and it remains to be seen if Nagelsmann will take Matthäus's suggestions into account to improve the team's performance in future European leagues and Champions League matches.
