Before the European Championship qualifier against Northern Ireland, Julian Nagelsmann was unusual. The most recent series of defeat has left traces of the national coach.
His voice was unusually quiet. His charisma? Extremely tense. Julian Nagelsmann, the actual Sunnyboy, who had brought the national team back to the national team and the entire country so eloquently in the past two years, had strangely depressed one day before the World Cup qualification game against Northern Ireland in Cologne (Sunday, from 8.45 p.m.).
The lack of emotion of his team, which he had publicly complained about and requested after the bloodless bankruptcy against Slovakia (0: 2), he also knew how to convey two days later. In his time as a national coach, he probably never showed himself so internally. The events of the past few days have visibly left traces of the 38-year-old.
Temporary Loss of trust
The otherwise self -confident communicator seemed unusual and also unsure: “I think that has arrived. But it doesn’t matter what you know, but how to use it “, Nagelsmann said about the many conversations he has held with his players in the past few hours.
The problem: “This is a baseless topic, something very subjective”says Nagelsmann. Could he have a sufficiently positive impact on his players? He didn’t seem to be sure of that.
The German national team and the national coach are undoubtedly in crisis mode. And Nagelsmann seems to have lost his confidence in his actors after the third international bankruptcy in a row. His reaction: With a view to the upcoming encounter against the northern Irish, he will exchange part of the team. How many actors it is, he left open.
No new chance
The changed compilation should arouse a new spirit as desired Nagelsmann – and thus bring the hoped -for turn to the better: a more intensive duel, a more aggressive offensive game, an overall more adequate attitude whether the importance of the qualifying games. All attributes that were painfully missed in the game of the national team.
Why does he fail to give Nagelsmann a new chance of giving his team that was most recently failed in Bratislava? “There are two options. I have opted for the first. Because not all players are in top shape and not all of them fit the new opponents”says Nagelsmann.
Use and will required
Most likely, both the Leverkusen Robert Andrich and the Dortmund Pascal Groß will get a chance from the start, since both are predestined for the recently missing, intensive style of play.
Because, especially against the northern Irish, which is particularly intensively acting, the national team will be concerned with taking to heart the basic properties of a soccer game and primarily to offer the opponent to the opponent in terms of use and will. “Not all players are used to playing against such an opponent”said Nagelsmann.
After the recent defeat, direct World Cup qualification is at least in danger, which is not a gratifying view for the future of the national coach. “To be afraid is not a solution. I’m strong enough. I think we’ll do a better job than Thursday”, “, said Nagelsmann – with a quiet, thoughtful voice.