Leverkusener played less recently
© Imago
Before the start of the Nations League final tournament, national coach Julian Nagelsmann addressed a clear message with a view of the World Cup season to the national players who are on the brink. In the squad for the end of the season with the semi -finals on Wednesday evening (9 p.m.) in Munich against Portugal, actors such as the Leverkusen Robert Andrich, named by Nagelsmann, were once again. This had recently been sitting on the bench more often in the club.
“We also decided in the coaching team with the players who didn’t play so much that we want to do the Nations League a bit round,” said the national coach. And that also with players, “who were simply there for a long time and contributed to the fact that we are now in the final Four”. The 30-year-old Bayer professional Andrich, who was also at home European Championships 2024, is the prime example, so to speak. “We didn’t want to drop a falling that didn’t play much in the club and should therefore not have been there,” said Nagelsmann. He explained this to Andrich: “Nevertheless, he has a big impact on the troops, also outside the square, but also on the pitch when he plays.”
Another personnel upheaval and further rejuvenation of the squad for the upcoming World Cup qualification in the second half of the year seems to be programmed. The mini-European Championship with the previous Nation League winners Portugal (2019), France (2021) and European champion Spain (2023) plays a major role for Nagelsmann on the way towards the World Cup tournament. “The Final Four is important for our self-confidence that it continues to grow. It is important to win against two top opponents in this small tournament,” he said before the semi-finals: “This is important for the World Cup qualification and then also for the World Cup, to be well prepared.”
