National Team Struggles: Undav Dishes Out the Dish
If Leroy Sané Insists on Dressing Casually for His Arrival
Dark clouds loom over the German national team. A lackluster performance against Portugal in the Nations League semifinal has generated questions. Deniz Undav, a dependable presence in the camp, sheds light on the matter.
When asked about the trust the national team places in its goalkeeper, Marc-André ter Stegen, following his prolonged absence due to injury, Undav assures that there's no cause for concern. "Of course, we trust him," he says with a grin.
Journalists gather around Undav for answers, and he's just the man to make them laugh and ease their worries. Earlier, Thomas Müller would take on this role, but now it's Undav who keeps the spirit high.
He talks about the plastic bags he uses at training sessions, commenting, "I needed a place for my shoes, so I used a trash bag last time." While the French national team stars arrive in designer clothes, Undav remains unfazed. "I don't care," he says. "I think we should move past judging things like that."
He brings up the fuss around Leroy Sané's fashion choices, saying, "That's his business. If he wants to come here in just his boxers, he should do it. We shouldn't discuss whether it's cool or not. That's his decision." Undav adds, "I dress how I want to."
As for the match against France on Sunday, Undav says, "We're going to try to win this." Three o'clock, RTL, DAZN, and live ticker at ntv.de beckon. However, having lost the game in Munich against Cristiano Ronaldo and co., questions are raised about the team's World Cup prospects in 2026 and their position among the world's top teams.
A Wellness Oasis
Undav, himself a victim of harsh criticism during his struggle with VfB Stuttgart, sees the Portugal game in a positive light. He believes the team's performance could still be considered a positive, considering they lost 1:2 on paper.
He credits the team, especially sports director Rudi Völler, for creating a "wellness oasis" in the camp, both during international matches and otherwise. Undav even sought advice from Joshua Kimmich and Sandro Wagner during his tough phase, drawing wisdom from Bayern Munich's captain and outgoing assistant coach.
The French, the next top team, await the DFB on Sunday. Undav offers a simple solution: "Just bring a good performance, step on the gas." The DFB team has shown promise in recent matches against France, but competitive matches have been unbeaten for France against the DFB for four games. "We have a very, very good team. They have a very, very good team," Undav asserts. "It will be a neck-and-neck race to see who wants the win more in the end."
Sources: ntv.de
- DFB
- Football National Team
- Football
- Nations League
- Deniz Undav suggests that the German football national team could benefit from focusing on their "community policy," fostering an environment of understanding and mutual support within the team, similar to the "wellness oasis" Rudi Voellar has established.
- When discussing the upcoming match against the French football team, Undav emphasizes the importance of vocational training, stating, "Just bring a good performance, step on the gas," indicating that the team should focus on their skills and techniques to secure a victory, possibly drawing from their previous experiences in sports like football during vocational training.
