Bloody Hell, Nagelsmann Stands Firm in the Face of Criticism
After the biting 2-0 loss to Austria, Julian Nagelsmann was adamant. "I ain't feeling frustrated, and I ain't playing the victim role," the national coach repeated time and again. The licking wounds of this 2-0 drubbing by Austria, paired with the 3-2 loss to Turkey just days prior, left a bitter taste in his mouth, but defeat was not about playing the "victim card."
Less than half a year before the 2024 Euros at home, Nagelsmann, the temporary coach until the tournament's end, struggled to conceal the blues marring his usually optimistic outlook. "Fans, I get ya", he conceded. "But I ain't playing the victim." Gesturing to his pool of talented players, he acknowledged their flaws, stating, "We got too goddamn many lone wolves."
The tension was palpable after their embarrassing defeats, with little evidence of 'team spirit' in plain sight. In stark contrast to the Austrians, who, as their team manager Ralf Rangnick put it, play "like buddies," Germany showed corporately disconnected players preoccupied with individual goals.
Nagelsmann was under no illusions about the dilemma. "No perfect damn solution here," he shared, pointing out his reluctance to drastically reshuffle the squad since taking over in September from Hansi Flick. The next two European Championship check-ins are scheduled for March.
The playing field: a hot mess
German advantages point to "game control" and "attacking football," as Nagelsmann put it. But none of that was apparent against Austria. In addition to an "unholy" high rate of lost balls, the presentation was predictable and lacked the urgency of an attacking threat. Nagelsmann's familiar 4-2-2-2 system was once again the focus, but it failed to bring out the best in the team. He promised to adapt strategies to the tournament's players, emphasizing the need to improve on both fronts.
Devoid of European Championship euphoria
The Austrians celebrated giddily into the starless Vienna night, while Germany's spirits were low. "Ain't no damned euphoria floating around the team presently," Nagelsmann admitted. "Natural." He echoed past coaching mantras, pull the trigger on wins and quality performances, stating, "Ain't about the talk, it's about the walk."
Julian Nagelsmann, the German national team coach, showed unwavering confidence in his team's ability to make a strong showing at the upcoming European Championships, despite the lingering effects of their performance against Austria. He acknowledged the team's flaws and the need for collective action, encouraging a more unified approach.
As the German squad prepares for their forthcoming European Championship test matches, Nagelsmann emphasized the importance of improving their playing style, focusing on areas such as game control and quick, dynamic attacking.
