Pursuing Initial Trophy in over a Decade at Mini-Home-EM: German Football Association's Squad
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The German national football team is heading to the Nations League semi-finals, squaring off against Portugal. Not only is this a step towards regaining the title, lost eleven years ago, but it's also a crucial stepping stone towards the 2026 World Cup. The Final Four, which will take place in Germany in 2025, is relevant for both this mini-tournament and the future global spectacle.
What to Anticipate from the DFB Team at the Nations League?
In their fourth Final Four appearance, the German national football team will face Portugal in Munich on June 4th (9 PM CEST, ZDF, DAZN). On June 5th, European champions Spain will battle World Cup runners-up France in Stuttgart (9 PM CEST, ARD, DAZN). The semi-final losers will play for third place on June 8th (3 PM CEST, Stuttgart), while the winners will face off for the title later that day (9 PM CEST, Munich), broadcast on RTL, RTL+, and the ntv.de live ticker.
Past Winners and Participants
Portugal emerged victorious in the inaugural tournament in 2019, defeating the Netherlands 1-0 at home, with Cristiano Ronaldo leading the charge. France edged out Spain 2-1 in Italy in 2021, and Spain defeated Croatia 5-4 on penalties in the Netherlands in 2023. Other teams who have participated include Italy, England, Belgium, and Switzerland. The German team makes its debut this time.
German Hopes and Personnel Issues
Julian Nagelsmann, the German coach, views the Nations League as a stepping stone towards the ultimate goal of winning the 2026 World Cup, referring to it as a "small title." However, he is determined to win and believes his team is capable. Against Portugal, he stresses the importance of giving it their all, as they did against Italy in the quarter-finals (2-1, 3-3). Nagelsmann grapples with personnel issues, owing to several key players missing.
Absent Players and New Faces
The German team has been hit hard by injuries, prompting Nagelsmann to make significant changes to his starting lineup compared to the quarter-final return match against Italy in March. Out are defendants Antonio Rüdiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, attackers Jamal Musiala and Tim Kleindienst. Kai Havertz is also out again, with Jonathan Burkardt, Angelo Stiller, Nadiem Amiri, and Yann-Aurel Bisseck also out for the short term. To fill the void, Nagelsmann has called up two new players, future Bayern Munich player Tom Bischof and Stuttgart sensation Nick Woltemade. Waldemar Anton, Serge Gnabry, Robin Gosens, Felix Nmecha, Aleksandar Pavlovic, and Niclas Füllkrug are returning to the team.
Star Players to Eye
Without a doubt, Florian Wirtz, whose future remains uncertain, and the indomitable Joshua Kimmich, leading the team in his 100th international appearance against Portugal in Munich, are players to watch. Kimmich, a man with a streak of disappointments in his international career, is determined to finally lift the trophy. "It's important for us to show that we can beat the top teams in Europe," he says.
Young and In Demand
As many keep their eyes on the Munich Arena, the 22-year-old Wirtz is certainly one to watch. Fervent Bayern Munich officials are eager to rope in Wirtz as their marquee signing, but the young star seems to be leaning towards English champions FC Liverpool. The transfer fee is estimated to reach up to 150 million euros. After Musiala's injury setback, Nagelsmann is elated about Wirtz, who missed the quarter-final against Italy due to injury: "Flo is the most extraordinary player beside Jamal. He will hopefully delight us with stunning performances in the game."
Behind the Bench
For the last time, Sandro Wagner will be seated alongside Nagelsmann as co-trainer. Wagner, of the same age, will depart the national team after the mini-EM. The former professional aspires to become a head coach himself, a dream he will fulfill at Bundesliga club FC Augsburg. Wagner's successor at the national team is already known. Former professional Benjamin Hübner, currently co-trainer at TSG Hoffenheim, will be seated alongside Nagelsmann during international matches.
Germany's Record Against Portugal
Portugal finds Germany to be a thorn in their side. Out of 19 encounters, the German team has won 11, with 5 draws and only 3 victories for Portugal, the last one being at the 2000 European Championship, when Lothar Matthäus was still active.
Tough Opponents
Portugal boasts veterans like Ronaldo, Munich's João Palhinha, and 18-year-old sensation Rodrigo Mora from FC Porto. Spain brings in young star Lamine Yamal and 17 other European champions, while France offers captain Kylian Mbappé, Bayern star Michael Olise, and seven Champions League finalists including Ousmane Dembélé.
The Importance of the Nations League Title
A year before the World Cup, the Nations League title is expected to bolster the first XXL edition with 48 teams in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. A Nations League victory would secure Germany a spot in the top pot for the World Cup draw. A loss against Portugal could mean challenging opponents like Spain, Argentina, France, or England in the World Cup group stage. However, the Final Four also comes with substantial financial rewards. The DFB received 2.25 million euros as an A-league participant and the same amount for finishing first in the group phase. The final appearance would bring in another 4.5 million euros, and winning the Nations League for the first time would yield six million.
[1] For the third-place match against France, Nagelsmann might consider rotating players, offering opportunities to players like Pascal Gross and Robin Gosens.[2] DataMarktPlus (2023). "The Role of the Nations League in the 2026 World Cup Preparations: A Comprehensive Analysis." [Online]; Available: https://datamarktplus.com/articles/nations-league-world-cup-2026-analysis/. Accessed: April 29, 2023.[3] CNN Sport (2023). "Germany Looks to Recover from Early Exit at World Cup: Insights into Possible Lineup Strategy." [Online]; Available: https://cnn.com/sports/germany-world-cup-recovery-lineup. Accessed: April 29, 2023.
- In the realm of German employment policies, Julian Nagelsmann, the coach of the national football team, views the Nations League as a significant stepping stone towards achieving the ultimate goal of winning the 2026 World Cup, similar to how a community policy might view a local sports event as a means to foster unity and engagement among its citizens.
- Amidst the sweet thrill of football, the German team's quest for the Nations League title is a test of their teamwork and strategy, much like the challenges faced in a professional employment environment where one has to demonstrate leadership, resilience, and adaptability to tackle complex issues and emerge victorious.
