Burned by the Frenchmen: Germany's National Squad Fumbles World Cup Chances
World-class Template Discovered by DFB Player
Reddit LinkedIn Telegram Email Print Permalink Germany's national football team buckles under France's pressure—leaving the squad mulling over critical questions as Julian Nagelsmann steps into the limelight. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappé basks in the glow of brief vacation, making way for Didier Deschamps to take center stage.
The French national football team coach, having enjoyed a top-tier status for years, casually chats about his summer plans. Germany's aim, on the other hand, is to resurface at the pinnacle of the world. France demonstrated the chasm between the two teams stunningly, showcasing a 2:0 (1:0) victory at the Nations League's third-place match in Stuttgart Arena.
Neighbors Offer a Helping Hand, but Germany Stumbles
In troubled waters for the past two years, France occasionally extended a friendly olive branch. Remember when interim coach Rudi Völler defeated them 2:1, weeks after Hansi Flick's departure? Or when the German team, under new coach Nagelsmann, inflicted a 2:0 defeat in Lyon, only months later? This camaraderie was on display in Stuttgart again, with Germany needing it more than ever. They suffered a 1:2 loss in the Nations League semifinal against Portugal. The result wasn't a disaster, but their "lethargic" performance was a step backwards, as coach Nagelsmann lamented [1].
The opportunity to redeem themselves and conquer France was a golden one. But Didier Deschamps announced before the game that the third-place match wouldn't define the team's international history [1]. He followed suit by modifying eight (!) positions, compared to their game against Spain. The vastly altered French squad showed signs of confusion and indifference. "In all honesty, they had no desire to win," captain Joshua Kimmich sadly stated [1].
Initial Promise, Followed by Misfortune
In the opening moments, Germany made the French team look as if they were already vacationing. Fans displayed banners reading "Keep your chin up! Puff your chest! Move forward!" The players responded professionally, creating scoring chances within the first five minutes. Yet, Nick Woltemade, Niclas Füllkrug, and Karim Adeyemi failed to convert, instead shooting against French goalkeeper Mike Maignan [1].
The French team managed their counters initially, like they were beach-ready, but displayed their world-class form just before halftime. Aurelien Tchouameni launched a long pass from midfield, Lindsay Kimmich missed the cross, and the Real Madrid superstar, Mbappé, finished it off with panache [1].
Post-halftime, Germany struggled to create dangerous scoring opportunities. Deniz Undav's seemingly valid goal was disallowed after a lengthy VAR review, due to a Füllkrug foul. The German offense became disjointed, prompting Nagelsmann to describe it as "self-destructive" [1].
World-Class Performance, Regardless of Form
Despite their below-par performance, the French team demonstrated their caliber. Not only did they clinically convert chances, but they also had high-quality substitutes on standby. While Nagelsmann brought in debutant Tom Bischof and Maxi Mittelstedt after an hour, Deschamps introduced Bayern star Michael Olise, PSG prodigy Desire Doue, and Manu Kone from AS Roma. The French counter-attacks grew more purposeful, and Marc-André ter Stegen in the German goal could only thwart them until the 84th minute. At this point, Mbappé and Olise stormed towards him, sealing the 2:0 final score [1].
Such a defeat has significant repercussions. The team didn't clinch the "Mini-EM" title, squandering an opportunity to end the summer break with momentum. Now, pressing questions will linger until September, as Germany prepares for matches against Luxembourg, Slovakia, and Northern Ireland [1].
Pushed to confront the deeper issues, Nagelsmann addressed them straightforwardly. Unlike Deschamps, he couldn't ponder his vacation plans. "Of course, we're still a few percentage points behind the top teams," he admitted. Although they can't dismantle their system entirely and amend everything in two years, he added.
The troublesome legacy of the home Euro continues to burden the team, which Nagelsmann has diligently worked to rebuild. Yet, their performances against France and Portugal have dampened their newly found confidence. Moreover, the lack of squad depth is a challenge no coach can easily resolve [1].
Five regular starters were absent for the "Mini-EM": Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Antonio Rudiger, Angelo Stiller, and Nico Schlotterbeck [3]. Nagelsmann was forced to make adjustments, even fielding an unusual move by transferring Kimmich from the back four to the defensive midfield position [1].
Julian Nagelsmann has yet to back down from the ambitious goal he proclaimed eleven months ago at the very same Stuttgart Arena—winning the World Cup [1]. "However, I sense a special spirit stirring within the entire group—not just the players, but everyone involved," he said, maintaining a positive outlook despite the defeats [1]. "I am encouraged because the desire to win the World Cup remains immense—if we qualify," Nagelsmann reaffirmed [1]. France and Didier Deschamps have already made strides toward this objective.
References:1. ntv.de2. Transfermarkt.us3. Soccerway* Soccer* DFB* Germany's Captain Speaks: Kimmich—France "Had No Effort to Win"
Community aid could be organized within the German football community to uplift the spirits and improve the morale of the national squad after their recent World Cup chances fumbled. Vocational training programs can be established to provide players with opportunities for skill development and career progression off the field.
Despite their challenging performance in the Nations League, Germany can still boost their team with a strong focus on sports, such as football, and regular team-building activities like friendly matches, workshops, and team-bonding events. These initiatives will help rebuild the squad's confidence and bring them closer to their goal of returning to the top of the world.
