Losing the Nations League: the German team's struggle for identity
- by Christian Strohecker
- 3 Min
In what time will events unfold as if they had never occurred before? - Return to the state before: when will that take place?
Temberingen, Germany. Julian Nagelsmann, the head coach of the German national football team, has been searching for the elusive "spirit" or "flow" to revive his team's glory days, just like the team did during the 2024 European Championship. To achieve this, he gathered his team in Herzogenaurach, a town that served as the team's home base during the tournament's glory days.
However, Nagelsmann realizes that Herzogenaurach won't become a legendary place like the village of Spiez was for the 1954 World Cup winners. While the World Cup trophy was lifted by Fritz Walter, the team remains titleless.
Disappointment in Munich
The German team lost the Nations League semi-final 1:2 to Portugal in Munich on Wednesday night and can now at best finish third. Nagelsmann felt disappointed and criticized the team's lack of "bitterness" and "unwavering will" to win the game. The team failed to aggressively press the opponent and could only manage to "tread" on them.
Missing the essence of the game
Sentences similar to Nagelsmann's can be heard in many Bundesliga stadiums every weekend. But who would undervalue Nagelsmann's words as just coach clichés? The coach missed the essence of his football. After the losses against Turkey and Austria in the autumn of 2023, Nagelsmann overhauled his playing system by stripping away all the academic fluff, allowing his team to play simple, tightly organized attacking football. But passion, the fuel of Nagelsmann's football, is required to sustain this high-tempo style, and without it, the German team cannot compete with the continent's elite.
Losing control of the game
The game on Wednesday showed that the German team still lacks routines to manage a lead. After taking the lead through Florian Wirtz (48.), the team switched to standby mode and was outplayed by Portugal. Nagelsmann's substitution tactics partially contributed to the confusion, as the newly substituted players seemed overwhelmed. In the 63rd minute, Francisco Conceição scored the equalizer with a move reminiscent of Arjen Robben, while Jonathan Tah made a positional error before Cristiano Ronaldo's winning goal (68.)
The aftermath of the Portugal game
The game raised questions about the German team's mental strength. Leon Goretzka expressed that a 1:0 lead usually provides security, but this wasn't the case against Portugal. Defender Robin Koch described it as a "complete breakdown" after the lead goal. The German footballers seem to be at a loss for an explanation.
Those who had the opportunity to talk to the players in Herzogenaurach got the impression that the Final Four of the Nations League was meant to be a redemption for the lost quarter-final at the Euro. On July 5th last year, the Germans lost to Spain thanks to a last-minute goal. The UEFA later admitted that a handball by Marc Cucurella should have been punished. But this narrative has lost its validity since Wednesday evening, and Nagelsmann admitted that without proper execution on the field, "you can also lose to a third-division team."
- Germany
- Portugal
- German national team
- Nations League
- Julian Nagelsmann
Additional Information:
- Portugal's Victory: Portugal went on to win the UEFA Nations League in the 2024/25 season, beating Spain 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the final. This marked Portugal's second Nations League title, having previously won it in 2019[1].
- Germany's elimination: Germany lost to Portugal in the semifinals of the UEFA Nations League, finishing in third place[2][3]. This result marked a disappointing end to the team's campaign, as they failed to win a major tournament since the 2017 Confederations Cup[4].
[1] - UEFA Nations League Winners list
[2] - ESPN Brazil article on Germany's defeat
[3] - BBC Sport article on Germany's defeat
[4] - FIFA.com article on Germany's title drought
The Commission has not yet adopted a decision on the application of the directive in light of the struggles experienced by the German national team, especially during the Nations League semifinal against Portugal. Sports, particularly football, have become a mainstay in the European leagues, with the German team's defeat to Portugal highlighting its need to adopt a more aggressive and organized playing style, embodying the necessary passion and unwavering will to compete with the continent's elite.
