analysis
A victory against Northern Ireland, after all. But 30 good minutes won’t always be enough. So you don’t become world champion. Now the national coach Julian Nagelsmann is challenged.
Afterwards a microphone is waiting for those who have decided football games, often even several. At least when it comes to games of the national team. That is the rule. It was also at Nadiem Amiri late Sunday evening. “This is an incredible moment, really”said Amiri in the ARD interview. “As a little boy, you dream of such moments.”
Amiri, 28, did not mean the microphone in front of his nose. He thought of what had happened before: In the 3: 1 (1: 1) victory in the World Cup qualification against Northern Ireland, Amiri was substituted after a good hour, Germany did not lead yet. That changed, also thanks to the new with number ten on the jersey. First he met himself, it was his first international goal in ninth. Then he took out the free kick that led to the final score.
Nagelsmann about Amiri: “Always on the accelerator”
Julian Nagelsmann, 38, knows Amiri Gut, he trained him in Hoffenheim years ago, when they were both a good deal from the national team. Now they have met again, which of course is due to Amiri’s services in Mainz. There he is the most important player. Your common past should also have played a role. At Amiri he knew what he could expect, Nagelsmann told ARD: “He is always on the accelerator pedal, he has always been. He did us well.”
So the international break for the national coach and his chosen ones did not end with whistles from the viewers as well as after the deserved defeat against Slovakia. People also whistled against Northern Ireland in the stadium, but at halftime. At the end Nobody whistled anymore. He was happy about the end of the game, said Amiri. Now he can “With a good feeling” leave. It may be the case for him personally. He took his chance.
Amiri took his chance – that does not apply to everyone National player
But this does not apply to all national players: Nick Woltemade, 23, was allowed to start as a center forward in both games, but only struck them positively once when he prepared Serge Gnabry’s lead against Northern Ireland. It was not evidence that he can help the national team in this position. Namdi Collins, 21, should stabilize the right side in the first game, but often ran after his opponent. He was replaced at halftime. He was not used in the second game.
Joshua Kimmich, 30, led statisticians in both games on his new, old position on the “six”, but his influence on the German game remained low. Against Slovakia, he moved into the defense with his own possession of the ball to build the game from there. He struggled in this hybrid role. He held the midfield center against Northern Ireland, but his game was not striking.
Nagelsmann is now asked as a puzzle expert
This is annoying for national coach Nagelsmann. When he announced the squad for the international week, he also spoke about the teachings from the disappointing Nation League final tournament. “We must not make the mistake of wanting to be Spain 2.0”said Nagelsmann. “We have to adapt a few things. We will have a different structure, defensive and offensive.”
Nagelsmann initially left open how exactly this new structure should look. Observers are rather at a loss even after two games. Structure, what structure?
Rather, you can imagine the national team as a puzzle in these weeks, the individual parts of which could result in a beautiful motif. The national coach has recently added a new part and removed or moved others, but a motif cannot be seen. The parts do not fit together. Not yet?
Reunion with Northern Ireland in October
When Nagelsmann was asked for a conclusion after the victory against Northern Ireland, he said that he was only too “50 percent” satisfied. For him, the missing percent were the game against Slovakia, which ended with a disappointment. He said: “The next course should be 100 percent successful.”
In October, Germany will meet Luxembourg (10.10.2025, from 8:15 p.m. in the live stream, in the live ticker and in the audio stream) in October (13.10.2025, from 8.15 p.m. in the live ticker and in the audio stream). They are games that the German team has to win. Otherwise you face a detour on the way to the World Cup via the playoffs or even one.
In the first leg against Northern Ireland, the German team won the first victory in this qualification, after all. In the end, 30 strong minutes were enough. It won’t always be the case. At some point better opponents are waiting, at the latest at the World Cup. The national coach Nagelsmann recently announced a goal for the final round: become world champions. He said: “What else should I say to the players: they should be happy if they survive the group phase?”
The only problem is: with services like against Slovakia and Northern Ireland, nobody becomes world champion. The ideas of the national coach will now arrive, and that he finds a place for every piece of the puzzle. Otherwise it would not be so bad to survive the group phase at the World Cup.