Germany Shuffles Deck for Third Place Clash Against France
No need for digging up any fields, according to Nagelsmann.
Ready to shake things up in Stuttgart, Julian Nagelsmann maintains that his national football team players will be eager to take on France, despite missing out on the Nations League final. The 37-year-old coach highlighted "several aspects" of the match against the World Cup runners-up on Sunday (15:00 CET/RTL and DAZN), affirming, "It's still the German A-team. If I always have to motivate them in the locker room, then I have to reconsider the squad."
Nagelsmann emphasized that the third-place match is more about preparing for the World Cup qualifiers, global rankings, and player rhythm rather than motivation. Expecting each player to aspire for a World Cup berth, he promised to review every individual closely, with the qualifiers commencing in September.
Having confirmed changes to the lineup after the disheartening 1:2 loss against Portugal in the Final Four tournament semifinal, Nagelsmann didn't disclose specific names, but Dortmund's Pascal Groß, who was among the press conference attendees, may see starting time.
"I don't need much self-motivation to play for Germany," said Dortmund's 33-year-old midfielder, clearly excited about facing a formidable opponent like France. "To measure myself against top players, to represent Germany, is still significant for me," Groß shared, expressing his hunger to collect points for world rankings and potentially claim third place.
Groß: Ready for the Challenge
"Facing top players, representing Germany, has a significant impact," said Groß, hinting at his eagerness to showcase his skills: "We can earn points for the world rankings. We can become third. So, I'm up for it."
Nagelsmann rates France highly, despite some notable absences, such as star striker Ousmane Dembélé. He admires France's squad depth and brutal performance density but wonders about their cohesion.
The match in Stuttgart promises to be an engaging encounter, with Germany seeking to make amends after their semifinal disappointment and France eager to maintain their impressive form following their dramatic semifinal win over European champions Spain (4:5).
"Julian Nagelsmann believes every German player aspiring for a World Cup berth will be eager to showcase their skills in the football match against France," and "Pascal Groß, excited about facing France, expressed his hunger to collect points for world rankings and potentially claim third place."
