The fact that national coach Julian Nagelsmann continues to shine with absence at the U21 European Championship in Slovakia.
“For me, this is a compulsory appointment for the A-trainer to look at the live instead of the television. This is again something else. You always talk about how closely everything is-and then you give the impression: In the end, I am not interested,” the former international Markus Babbel rumbled before the semi-finals of the DFB selection against France at “Sat1”.
The 52-year-old added: “It also has something to do with appreciation. It is not surprising that we have this semi-finals today. I think you have to plan your vacation around it.”
Previously, DFB managing director Andreas Rettig had broken a lance for Nagelsmann: “I would like to say one so that the impression does not arise that the national coach is on the couch and is not interested in the topic. The national coach will come, we should play the final.”
The current debate about Nagelsmann is “a typical German topic. Except for Mr. Gattuso (national coach in Italy; editor’s note), I have not yet seen any other national coach.”
Rettig replied to Babbel’s criticism: “Of course you get applause at the regulars’ table, that’s no question, Markus.”
U21 stars supposedly “disappointed and surprised” because of Nagelsmann
Nagelsmann’s absence at the dramatic quarter -finals against Italy (3-2 NV) allegedly also caused criticism in the team.
“Bild” reported that it was heard that players were “disappointed and surprised” that Nagelsmann had not followed the game in the Mol Aréna in Dunajska Streda.
After the flawless preliminary round, there were three wins from three games and a goal difference of 9: 3 hope in the team that the national coach looks at the encounter against the Azzurrini live on the stands.
In the U21 selection of coach Antonio di Salvo, several players who could also be candidates for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, USA and Mexico are frolicking. The professional of VfB Stuttgart has recently been used twice in the A national team at the Final Four in the Nations League.
Brajan Gruda (Brighton & Hove Albion) and Rocco Reitz (Borussia Mönchengladbach) in 2024 were part of the preparatory squad in front of the European Championship, even if they remained without use.