Grinning Through the Storm: Deniz Undav Addresses DFB Concerns
If Leroy Sané insists on dressing casually in gym attire
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link Dark clouds gather over the DFB team: The performance in the Nations League semi-final against Portugal was far from good, raising questions. Deniz Undav provides answers.
After the disappointing semi-final loss to Portugal in the Nations League, Deniz Undav, a DFB camp regular, faces the media with a dose of his signature humor. All the doubts, the concerns, the thickening clouds over the national team: If anyone can dispel them, it's Undav.
Sports Undav's "Couldn't Care Less" - The DFB Star Explains Why He Bears a Trash Bag to Training There's a lot to talk about. Even before the DFB team squares off against the dominating French squad on Sunday (3 PM/RTL, DAZN, and ntv.de live ticker), there's a lengthy crisis meeting in the camp, as reported by sporting director Rudi Völler on ARD. They're taking a page from success, so the message is clear: Up the ante, said Völler.
"I Just Don't Give a Hoot"
Deniz Undav lightens the mood just in time for the DFB team. Instead of tense silence, jokes about plastic bags fill the air. Just like that, the stars of the French national team arrive in designer outfits. "I couldn't care less," says Undav. "To each their own." He still remembers the uproar around Leroy Sané's fashion choices. "That's his choice. If he wants to show up in just boxers, that's okay with me."
Undav always has a quip ready, even for the match on Sunday. "We're going for it," he says, quickly correcting himself: "After all, we're playing for third place." After the performance in Munich against Cristiano Ronaldo and co., many questions arise. Are the team's competitive prospects for the 2026 World Cup strong enough? Where does the DFB team stand among the world's elite?
Sport "The Substitution Lead to Defeat" - DFB's Loss to Portugal - Gerdes Points to Reasons Undav himself is living proof of how to cope with poor performances. He and his VfB Stuttgart endured a results crisis last spring and had a difficult season overall. It all came down to one thing. "They were criticizing me for not running fast enough," Undav recalls in the "Süddeutsche Zeitung." The time wasn't easy. "I wasn't a different player during that time. I was just as fast or not fast as always."
Suddenly, he was under the spotlight. Everything was a problem: his new car or his skipping a doner during his goal drought. For someone who thrives on his laid-back nature, this was a challenge. "It matters to me what people think of me, the fans, my teammates, and if everything's good and I'm happy, I can be the best possible Deniz," he told the SZ.
Surviving the Struggle
He started doubting himself. After all, he is "basically the player who wants to play well." Now, he's back in the national team, a sign that he's back to being that player and has overcome that tough period. VfB Stuttgart even managed to qualify for the Europa League via the DFB-Pokal title. So, how did Undav become Undav again? Well, first, he scored a goal against Union Berlin after more than ten Bundesliga games. "It was about good performances," he says.
Sport Gosens Apologizes for Mistake Just After Substitution - DFB Star on Portugal Goal The DFB team also played a part in his return. Sports director Völler recently spoke about the camp being a wellness retreat. But it seems that applies not only to international matches but also outside of them. Undav confided that he sought advice from Joshua Kimmich during that tough phase about on- and off-pitch behavior. With Kimmich as the national team's captain and a leader at FC Bayern, he found the right guidance. He also got tips from outgoing assistant coach Sandro Wagner.
This phase also helps explain why Undav views the Portugal game from a different perspective. Why his view on the lackluster performance is different. Indeed, they were far from where they wanted to be. But still, he says in the team camp in Herzogenaurach, one can see it "positively": Despite a narrow 1:2 defeat on paper.
Next Sunday, they face France, yet another top team. How can the DFB team challenge them? "By giving it our all, stepping on the gas," Undav says. The DFB team has had good chances against France recently. The last two friendlies went to the German selection, but in competitive matches, France's team under coach Didier Deschamps has been undefeated against the DFB team for four games. "We have a fantastic team. They have a fantastic team," Undav states. "It's going to be a tight race to see who wants the win more in the end."
Source: ntv.de
- DFB
- Football National Team
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Deniz Undav suggests that the DFB football team could improve their performances by implementing a community policy that includes vocational training, such as coaching or sports administration, during the off-season to keep players engaged and motivated.
After the disappointing loss to Portugal in the Nations League, Deniz Undav emphasizes the importance of a positive mindset and suggests that the team could take a break from football and participate in a friendly game of soccer with the local community to help boost morale and foster camaraderie.
