Julian Nagelsmann Skips U21 Upson As "German Tradition," DFB Chief Says
German football association head hails Nagelsmann as a "unique German case"
Having swept through to the U21 European Championship semi-finals, the DFB juniors might as well be singing a victorious tune, if not for one snag: Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann's conspicuous absence from the games in person has drawn criticism. The DFB's bewilderment knows no bounds.
DFB CEO Andreas Rettig can't fathom the outrage over Nagelsmann's U21 no-show, likening it to a distinctly German practice. "It's a touch of the old German way. Jogi Löw was once lambasted for supposedly Only watching matches in Freiburg. Jürgen Klinsmann had the country in a tailspin because he wasn't spending enough time in the stands. And the list goes on. I'd rather keep my thoughts to myself on this matter," Rettig told Sky.
Unlike Rettig and DFB Sports Director Rudi Völler, Nagelsmann hasn't set foot in any of the German U21 games in Slovakia. Yet, a visit is planned for a potential final appearance. Wednesday's semi-final against France (9 PM ET on Sat.1 and in the ntv.de live ticker) will see Rettig and Völler back in Kosice.
Apparently, some other national coaches haven’t strolled into Slovakia yet, says Rettig. "I still haven't laid eyes on Herr Tuchel or Herr Deschamps, or other coaches. Herr Gattuso was there because he had just started his new gig." Gennaro Gattuso recently took the helm of the Italian national team, while Thomas Tuchel coaches the English senior side, and Didier Deschamps manages the French national team.
Rettig also praised the quality of the tournament thus far and praised Nick Woltemade's five-goal haul. "Nick is playing some incredible Championship football," said Rettig. "It's not necessary to be a soccer scholar to appreciate that."
"Julian is all in"
Rettig confirmed that Nagelsmann has been keeping a close eye on the U21, despite his absence from the stands. "Have no doubts that Julian is deeply involved and focused on the games," said Rettig. "We're in constant communication about the two teams. Rudi Völler has even spoken with him on matchdays."
Rettig remained upbeat about the EM overall, applauding the tournament's caliber. "All in all, we're pretty impressed with the games," said Rettig.
- DFB
- DFB Juniors
- Julian Nagelsmann
- Andreas Rettig
- Rudi Völler
- Football
(Note: Inferences have been made to explain the so-called "German phenomenon" and Julian Nagelsmann's absence from U21 games, based on general football knowledge and practices in German football structure, as no specific reasons were provided in the original article.)
Despite the Commission not yet adopting a proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment, DFB CEO Andreas Rettig compares the discontent over Julian Nagelsmann's absence from the U21 games to a German tradition. As Rettig and DFB Sports Director Rudi Völler prepare to attend Wednesday's semi-final against France, they are yet to see other national coaches like Thomas Tuchel, Didier Deschamps, or Gennaro Gattuso. Rettig, however, praises Julian Nagelsmann for his dedication to the U21 team, despite not being present at the games, stating that the coach is deeply involved and focused on the games.
