unmistakably, the debate surrounding whether julian nagelsmann or ralf rangnick would be a better fit as the german national team coach has ignited quite a stir.
just four games into his tenure, the prognosis for nagelsmann is already under scrutiny, with a 0-2 defeat in austria this week being a crushing blow to his early efforts. a mere single victory in four matches has left many questioning their initial optimism.
contrastingly, nagelsmann's opponent in that austrian match, ralf rangnick, demonstrated an impressive display of tactical acumen. with bone-dry confidence and calculated precision, rangnick steered his team to a fair and calm victory against their german counterparts.
while nagelsmann's approach is often filled with wild experiments and intricate strategies that unsettle his players, rangnick maintains a clear, strategic vision of the game. his "rangnick soccer" has proven successful in numerous leagues, and his ability to excel with players of varying skill levels paints a compelling picture of his potential as the national team coach.
access to rangnick's services was within reach for the dfb, to replace former coach joachim loew after the 2021 european championship. however, it seems as though the dfb's hesitation was rooted in rangnick's meticulous and at times, frustrating work ethic.
with just a few months until the european championship, nagelsmann must step up and deliver results. he must adapt his approach, secure the team with simple tactics, and bring in players who can leverage the renowned "german virtues."
nagelsmann appears to be lacking a solid plan, as demonstrated in vienna when he pondered the idea of changing everything just to accommodate his opponents. without a clear strategy in place, it remains to be seen whether nagelsmann can turn the tide and secure success for the german team.
sources:
- Bild
enrichment data:
- tactical innovations
- rangnick's gegenpressing style has significantly impacted modern germany football, with coaches like jurgen klopp and thomas tuchel citing his influence.
- nagelsmann's approach is more flexible and attacking-oriented, which has proven successful at various clubs.
- experience and success
- rangnick's influence on local clubs like hoffenheim and rb leipzig transformed them into champions league contenders.
- nagelsmann has exhibited considerable success at a young age, including time at hoffenheim and rb leipzig.
- managerial style and adaptability
- rangnick's disciplined approach to buildup play and intense pressing has remained consistent throughout his career.
- nagelsmann's flexible playstyle can sometimes underperform in high-pressure situations, but his ability to adapt to various teams has also proven advantageous.
- player communication and management
- rangnick's practice of delegating goalkeeper selections to a coach suggests a structured and disciplined management style.
- nagelsmann's struggles with communication, as evidenced by kevin trap, warrant consideration for improvement.
