Blowup: Germany's National Squad Fails to Take Down France in High-Stakes Showdown
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Germany's football powerhouse falls short against France, leaving coach Julian Nagelsmann under the microscope. While the vice-world champions argue about vacations, Nagelsmann faces scrutiny.
Star player Kylian Mbappé made a brief exit, only for Didier Deschamps to take center stage. The French national football team coach had plenty to say during the press conference in Stuttgart Arena. About the "mini-EM," his team, and his summer vacation plans. He may visit Mbappé at the Club World Cup in the U.S., or he may not. Oh, and by the way, World Cup qualifiers resume in September.
Deschamps enjoys a luxury Nagelsmann doesn't have: the leisure to discuss vacation plans. After all, his team has dominated the football world for a long time, a position Germany has long coveted. France showed Germany in Stuttgart what it means to be a world champion. There's no other way to explain the 2:0 (1:0) win in the Nations League third-place match.
Sports 🏆 | Germany's Captain Speaks Out: Kimmich - France Had 'No Desire to Win'
First, the neighbor extended a surprising hand of friendship - a gesture that has proved reliable in the past. A quick look back: Whenever Germany was in trouble in the past two years, France offered itself as a friendly opponent. After Hansi Flick's departure in autumn 2023, interim coach Rudi Völler defeated France 2:1. A few months later, Nagelsmann's new German team paved the way for the home European Championship with a 2:0 win in Lyon.
The same offer was there in Stuttgart. Germany needed it desperately: during the week, they lost the Nations League semi-final against Portugal 1:2. The result was somewhat acceptable, but the problem was the "lackluster" performance, as Nagelsmann put it. It felt like a step backward: no game control, no power, always too late. The difference between the two teams had never been clearer.
All the more reason why Deschamps had already stated before the game against Germany that the third-place match wouldn't be the most important thing in the recent international match history. He demonstrated this by making eight (!) changes to the team compared to the 4:5 thriller against Spain. The altered team appeared confused and lacked motivation at the start. "Honestly," captain Joshua Kimmich admitted dejectedly after the final whistle, "they had no desire to win."
At first, the German team showed determination to make up for their performance against Portugal. Fans held banners saying "Keep your head up! Chest out! Forward!" and the players on the field followed instructions. In the first five minutes alone, there were chances for five goals. But Nick Woltemade, Niclas Füllkrug, and Karim Adeyemi missed their shots, aiming against French goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Football can be cruel, and when a team doesn't score, the opponent will. Initially, France played their counters as if they already had their vacations booked. However, they showcased world-class quality just before halftime, taking the lead 1:0. Aurélien Tchouaméni crossed the ball from the wing to Mbappé, Kimmich missed the header, and the Real Madrid star finished with a deft move.
After halftime, the German team struggled to create dangerous chances. The final blow came when a seemingly valid goal by Deniz Undav was disallowed after a long VAR review due to a foul by Füllkrug. Following that, the German attack became chaotic, with Nagelsmann himself describing it as "self-destructive."
Meanwhile, the French team continued to exhibit world-class quality, even though they didn't play stunningly. Not only did they clinically convert their chances, but they also had top-notch substitutes on the bench. While Nagelsmann brought in Tom Bischof and Maxi Mittelstädt after an hour, Deschamps introduced Bayern star Michael Olise, PSG sensation Desire Doué, and AS Roma's Manu Koné. The French counters became more purposeful, and Marc-André ter Stegen in the German goal could only prevent the deciding goal until the 84th minute. Then Mbappé and Olise stormed towards him, securing the 2:0 final score.
Football 🏆 | One Player Stands Out | This outcome is bitter on multiple levels. First, instead of the title, it's the last place in the final tournament of the Nations League. Second, the team missed an opportunity to head into the summer break and subsequently the World Cup qualifiers with momentum. Now, fundamental questions will linger until September. It remainsto be seen if the matches against Luxembourg, Slovakia, and Northern Ireland will provide answers.
As a result, head coach Nagelsmann had to become more fundamental in his final press conference. Unlike Deschamps, he couldn't contemplate his vacation. "We are still a few percentage points behind the top teams in the world," he admitted. It's clear: "We can't expect to conquer the world and fix everything that hasn't been perfect over several years in just two years."
Germany is still burdened by the home Euro a year later, despite the coach's efforts to build new self-confidence. Despite the losses to France and Portugal, he maintains a positive outlook, especially because "the desire to win the World Cup is still immense - if we qualify." He believes he senses "something special" in the entire group, not just the players but the entire staff.
However, Germany needs to address several key issues:
- Evaluating Team Depth and identifying areas where new talent can be integrated.
- Improving adaptability in different situations, such as handling pressure and creating scoring opportunities.
- Working on defensive solidity and reducing errors that could change the game's momentum.
- Integrating young talent and developing reliable goal-scoring options.
- Maintaining resilience and confidence in the face of setbacks.
- Reviewing coaching setup and leadership to ensure strategies align with long-term vision and goals.
By tackling these issues, Germany can work towards recovering its position as a formidable force in international football.
Community aid could be organized within the footballing community to support German players and coaches, who may be facing criticism and pressure following the loss to France. Vocational training sessions could be arranged for individuals within the team to develop new skills and strengthen their resilience.
As a diversion from the intense competition of European-leagues, it might be beneficial for German players to participate in local sports events or recreational leagues, potentially fostering camaraderie and team spirit outside of the professional arena.
