Relief, but no euphoria: DFB victory pattern of “greed” and “biliousness”

Goal premiere for space

Relief, but not euphoria: For Julian Nagelsmann, the 4-0 (2-0) against Luxembourg was a model of “greed” and “biliousness”. But even before the bus ride from Sinsheim through the night back to the team headquarters in Herzogenaurach, where the DFB entourage arrived shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, the national coach was already turning his analytical gaze forward again.

On Monday his team will face a much more difficult task in Belfast against Northern Ireland. Nagelsmann was also only casually interested in the jump to first place in qualification group A and the improved chances of a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup. “In the end we have to win the game, that’s above all else. I think it’s not advisable to read the table when it’s not over. We have to win the games. And that’s what we’ll try to do on Monday,” said Nagelsmann. The 38-year-old expects greed and gall from his men, even in the drafty national stadium Windsor Park.

The findings from the unequal duel against Luxembourg are likely to help, as they provide momentum after the difficult weeks of coming to terms with the false start in qualifying against Slovakia (0:2). The quintessence of the evening of encouragement in Kraichgau was summed up for Nagelsmann by the outstanding captain and double goalscorer Joshua Kimmich. “It was important to win, but it was also important that we won in the way we did. What’s good is that we showed certain principles and attitudes,” emphasized the 30-year-old.

Nagelsmann was able to include an important triad in his analysis. Insight 1: Kimmich can really play anywhere. Moving the leader back to the right flank worked. Also because the captain took all the freedom he could to direct the game. Will the position be advisable for Kimmich against stronger opponents? That doesn’t matter to Nagelsmann. “I can put it somewhere else half an hour before the game, it will do just fine,” said the national coach.

Finding 2: The performance principle works. Nagelsmann relied on Bayern in strong form. And it wasn’t just Kimmich who delivered. His Munich teammate Serge Gnabry played what the national coach called his “best game in a long time” as a goalscorer, a constant asset on the offensive and with a defensive sprint. The 30-year-old is “a role model player”. Aleksandar Pavlovic and Leon Goretzka also received special praise as the new DFB double six.

Finding 3: In the absence of the injured pillars Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala, Antonio Rüdiger and Marc-André ter Stegen, the team has to function. Nagelsmann describes this with terms like “baseline” and “soft facts”, which should be correct. For example, he wants to recognize “the desire for collective defense.” “Our trump card must be that we are a team,” said Kimmich.

DFB captain Kimmich and his favorite position: “Actually in goal”

After the game, Kimmich also commented on his move from midfield to the right side of defense. When asked where he actually likes to play most, he answered with humor. “Actually in the goal,” said the Bayern professional and laughed.

At the age of 30, Kimmich has lost none of his ambition. But he’s no longer as stubborn as he used to be. He now said in Sinsheim that he now “doesn’t care at all” where he plays in the DFB team and where he is needed. “As far as I’m concerned, the coach doesn’t have to decide,” replied Kimmich when asked about Nagelsmann’s possible decision. The national coach emphasized: “He can perform both positions well, even at short notice. I have a lot of exchanges with my captain. I can also move him somewhere else half an hour before the game, he can do it well.”

Kimmich played a decisive role in the game against mostly ten Luxembourgers from the right side. And in his 104th international match, in which he overtook football legend Franz Beckenbauer (103 appearances), he also scored a brace for the first time. “Scoring is not my core area.” First he converted his third penalty for the national team quite confidently – almost in the style of his Bayern colleague Harry Kane. He ran, delayed briefly and hit the ball in the bottom right corner. “No, Harry doesn’t shoot so easily,” Kimmich remarked, smiling at the sharpness of the shot. Shortly after the break he scored 4-0, crowning his very good performance.

Raum’s goal premiere for the DFB with an announcement to the physio

David Raum knew exactly what he was going to do at the weekend. “I’ll look at the goal a few times,” emphasized the Leipzig player. The 27-year-old full-back scored his debut goal for Germany in his 31st international match. In the 12th minute, the left-footed player curled a free kick through the opposing wall into the right corner. “Fantastic. I’m very happy,” said the RB Leipzig captain.

Raum laid the foundation for the 4-0 win against Luxembourg in the World Cup qualification in the TSG Hoffenheim arena. And it was a goal with an announcement, as he proudly said afterwards. “I had a good feeling before today, here in my old living room,” said the former Hoffenheim professional. He also announced his moment of happiness to a physiotherapist from the DFB team. “When I was lying on the couch with him before the game, I said: Today it’s time for a goal. He just laughed,” said Raum.

Before the free kick, he was in conversation with Florian Wirtz in front of the ball. Did he have to negotiate with his teammate about the execution? “Flo and I also practiced free kicks in the training sessions. I went there, I asked him. He said: ‘You can take it,'” revealed Raum. “I had a good feeling. I had already scored one at the club recently. Hard work pays off. I practice it every week. Twice I stay longer, like ten shots.”