analysis
Almost all DFB players started the World Cup tournament well against Curacao. National coach Julian Nagelsmann only has a problem on the right offensive side: Leroy Sané hardly had any successful actions, missed great chances to score and didn’t seem very confident. The squad offers alternatives, but each of them has disadvantages and is likely to give Nagelsmann a stomach ache.
The 63rd minute of the DFB team’s game against Curacao was typical of Leroy Sané’s day at work. First, the right winger started into the open space behind the opposing back four and plucked Jonathan Tah’s high pass from the air in an exemplary manner, then he placed the ball next to the goal from the best position. In the very next scene, Sané eagerly started dribbling on the right side, but ran the ball out of bounds. Frustrated, Sané jumped into the air and showed that he was extremely dissatisfied with how the game was going.
His appearance was committed, his body language, which is often criticized, was correct, and his defensive work was exemplary. The offensive output, Sané’s core business, was completely missing. The 30-year-old was not only unlucky in final situations, but interaction with his teammates also rarely worked. As the game wore on, confidence seemed to wane and Sané’s decision-making was poor on several occasions.
Nagelsmann about Sané: “Super hardworking”
Julian Nagelsmann must have seen it that way too, even though the national coach defended his protégé after the game. “He was super busy today“said Nagelsmann in the Sportschau interview.”He worked a lot and took away a lot of transition situations from the opponent. I think you can pay him a compliment today.”
Understandably, Nagelsmann did not want to create a public debate about Sané. Despite the unfortunate performance, he left Sané on the field for the entire game, probably hoping that he would score a goal to gain the momentum that Jamal Musiala, Felix Nmecha and Co. took with them from the Curacao game. This wish did not come true, and so Nagelsmann is faced with the inevitable question: How should he deal with the only player who is not in form at the start of the tournament?
Germany unchanged against Ivory Coast?
Sure, Germany won 7-1. It is therefore obvious that Nagelsmann trusts his starting eleven in the second game against the Ivory Coast (Saturday, 10 p.m. German time) – including Sané. Not every observer and fan will like this, but if you look at Nagelsmann’s alternatives, this decision wouldn’t be completely incomprehensible.
The interaction rarely worked: Joshua Kimmich and Leroy Sané (r.)
Lennart Karl’s injury pushed Sané into the starting line-up in the first place. Due to the loss of the Bayern talent, Sané is the only winger in Nagelsmann’s squad who can move from the right wing into the middle with his strong left foot. A new position would have a direct impact on the statics of the German game.
Leweling as a direct replacement?
A possible candidate would be Jamie Leweling, who played on the right offensive side for Stuttgart, particularly in the final phase of the season. From a purely positional perspective, Leweling would be the direct replacement candidate. He was the same for 18 minutes in the World Cup test against the USA. However, Leweling interprets the position differently, plays the wing much more and hits crosses. With Kai Havertz, Germany has a potential buyer for these crosses, but crosses are not a central element in Nagelsmann’s philosophy.
Assan Ouédraogo, who was nominated for Karl, is not a winger, even if the 20-year-old can be used flexibly. A solution would be conceivable in which Ouédraogo interprets the role as center-heavy. With only a total of 13 minutes played for the senior national team so far, Nagelsmann will have a hard time throwing Ouédraogo straight in. Maximilian Beier would also be an extremely surprising choice because Beier usually acts as a hanging striker for Borussia Dortmund or comes over the left wing.
Havertz or Musiala could avoid it
A change including position rotation seems more likely. Havertz, for example, has played on the right several times in his career and could leave the center of the attack for the extremely strong Deniz Undav. But does Nagelsmann want to do without Havertz’s first-class solution in the center of the attack? Hard to imagine.
Jamal Musiala could also be a mix of ten and winger – similar to Florian Wirtz on the left side – and Undav could again move into the offensive center. But this castling doesn’t seem ideal either: Musiala is just getting back into shape in his favorite position in the center, and Nagelsmann won’t want to move him.
Sané is under special observation
So it’s a tricky situation for the DFB coaching team. Against the group opponents Ivory Coast and Ecuador, who are considered to be much stronger than Curacao, the DFB team will need impulses from the right offensive side. But especially in the knockout round, which Germany will most likely reach with their opening win in their pocket, you can’t afford to drag a player through.
Should Nagelsmann place his trust in Sané again given that the alternative solution is not clear, the winger will be under special observation. Sané can hardly afford another performance like that against Curacao, no matter how much the national coach values and protects him. Nagelsmann will then have to rebuild at the latest, stomach ache or not.