With the bankruptcy against Portugal, several DFB professionals disappointed. For some it is not the first time. Your time in the national team could be over soon.
The title chance in the Nations League is gone for the German national team after the defeat against Portugal (1: 2). But that in the semi -finals of the competition, national coach Julian Nagelsmann should not only pain. His team’s error -preserved appearance against the team around superstar Cristiano Ronaldo would simply not have deserved a victory. Nagelsmann himself even admitted that without anytime.
On Sunday, the DFB team now has the chance of a little reconciliation. In Stuttgart, the game for third place against France is on the program (from 3 p.m. in the live ticker at T-Online). However, the relevant game in public understanding is actually of great importance in truth.
On the one hand, Germany has to win to keep a more or less good chance of a lottery pot for the World Cup next year. Due to the current world ranking position, the DFB selection according to the current stand would land in Lost pot and would possibly meet top teams such as Argentina, England, Spain or Brazil in the preliminary round of the tournament. Thanks to the victory of the Norwegians against Italy on Friday evening, the German opportunities are now a little better (you can read more about this here).
But even for individual players in the squad, the game should become a matter that is extremely important for them. Because after the recently shaky performance in the national team, the duel with the French could be the last chance under Julian Nagelsmann for one or the other.
On Friday, the national coach made it clear that his stars should not see the upcoming game as a loose leisure kick. “If anyone does not understand that we have to use the game for ourselves …”, Nagelsmann almost threatened at the press conference in Herzogenaurach, but without completing the sentence. The fact that he addressed his players directly seemed clear. Likewise, that the consequences that against France are threatened to not call up their full range of services
Some players may have listened to Nagelsmann’s words. One of them: Serge Gnabry. In March, the Bayern star had not been nominated for the quarter-final games against Italy for performance reasons. A clear memo from the DFB coach for the winger, who then presented himself better in shape again at the end of the season. But Gnabry against Portugal at the last improved impression was destroyed again in no time.
After his subsequent substitution for Bayern colleagues Leroy Sané, the game of the DFB team was not better, but more agile. Gnabry had no access to the game in half an hour of play, played a bad pass and strangers in a team before 1: 2 that urgently needed energy for a final offensive. The 29-year-old could not deliver it in the beginning. Another uninspired appearance could catapult Gnabry for the next DFB courses from the DFB team-and possibly forever.
The situation at Robin Gosens looks similar. The left rail player has been part of the national team since 2020. Means: Gosens is far from being part of the DFB team, but often slips into the squad. However, he was not nominated for the last two tournaments, the 2022 World Cup and the EM 2024. Also because you are looking for the consistency in particular at the 30-year-old at the DFB level.
The fact is also: The 1: 1 equalizer stripper on Tuesday evening in Munich through Portugal’s Francisco Conceição went primarily to Gosens cap. The professional of the AC Florence was much too easy to dance from the attacker on the outer lane, as a result, no longer came behind his opponent at the pace, who then fellowly completed the German goal. Conceição Gosens also duped in one-on-one in added time, thus once again drawn attention to the deficits of the ex-Union in duel behavior.