No Nation League title, no third place for the DFB team: After a disappointing final four tournament, the hoped-for tailwind for the upcoming World Cup qualification is missing. But the national coach has already proven that he can master crises.
The European Football Championship took place in Germany almost a year ago. The country was in football fever. Some spoke of the summer fairy tale 2.0-based on the home World Cup 2006. Even after the quarter-final off of the DFB team against Spain, football Germany was “completely detached”.
Football euphoria in Germany should continue to be carried
This euphoria should also be carried on at the Nations League final: the German national team had qualified for the first time in the short history of the Nations League – and then this “mini -European” also took place in their own country – some already spoke of the title.
But after the defeats against Portugal (1: 2) and France (0: 2) Football Germany has stepped on the euphoric. Instead of a great joy of football, there is now disappointment-suddenly new doubts and quality debates before the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada determine the day. After all, after the bankruptcy against France there was applause for the players.
Memories become awake
Because it was not that long ago that the German national team was mercilessly whistled: in November 2023 – Nagelsmann was in office for just two months – the German national team only lost the friendly against Turkey (2: 3), and then also failed due to Austria (0: 2). The mood in the basement was a few months before the home European Championship.
But then Julian Nagelsmann made the turn with a radical cut in time: clear roles, clear tasks, clear tactics – the DFB team convinced with its performance and fascinated the masses.
Nagelsmann can handle crises
At the time, Nagelsmann had proven that he could handle crises – and now? After all, the performance in the game against France was significantly better than that against Portugal, where the national coach had an unusual triple chain played and caused confusion with an early triple change.
DFB team is missing Coldness
“We have to be more active and aggressive, that’s the key,” Nagelsmann had emphasized before the kick -off. What the national coach wanted, he received from his eleven, which was changed in four positions. The DFB team was also good for the return to the familiar system with four chains. Joy of playing and passion returned – which was missing: cold -ceiling and gunfire. The exploitation of opportunities was extremely negligent against a weak replacement of France.
“We saw a completely different team, with much more courage than against Portugal. But the exploitation of opportunities is also part of football,” said the national coach. “We know that we are sometimes a bit inferior to the top nations from the single player qualities, I also count France. Nevertheless, in many moments we were the top team until shortly before the finish line,” said Nagelsmann. You would have shown that despite failures, you could also play ten very good chances against a top team. They couldn’t use them.
Kimmich: “Can beat the top team”
Captain Joshua Kimmich also saw it: “You can see that if we are 100 percent of the mentality and attitude at 100 percent as in the first half, then we can also beat a top European team,” said the Bayern player. “If we are not, we saw that against the Portuguese, then it will be difficult. Not only against the top teams, then it will also be difficult in the qualification.”
In September it will continue for Nagelsmann and the DFB team
An overall good international year ends with two defeats, with which the hoped -for tailwind failed to fail a year before the WM away destination. In September, the World Cup qualification in Slovakia and Northern Ireland in Cologne begins for the national coach and his team-it would be good for the football euphoria if the fans often hear the goal anthem “completely detached”.
Table leadership and relegation battle, current gameplays, results and live tickers, scoring lists, mileage and duel statistics and much more: Football in the results center of BR24Sport.
Source: BR24Sport 08.06.2025 – 3:00 p.m.
