Why did Germany become a basketball world champion in 2023 and now in 2025 Basketball European champions? Because the overall package of talent, understanding of the game, joy and emotion was right. Everyone knew what their job was, nobody played for themselves, but for the common success. That was also infected by the fans, the whole country was pleased with this team that was really a team.
And that is exactly what we lack in football, for years. If the German internationals do not finally internalize this, it will not work. Because these paralyzing, restrictive tactical constraints have spread except for the DFB team. There was no desire to play, there was no freedom – and it ended in a defeat against Slovakia and a tough performance against Northern Ireland.
Do you know which country Germany has overtaken in the current football world rankings? Morocco, which is now in eleventh place. And not without reason. Can you remember this team? At the 2022 World Cup, she enthusiastically with sacrificing, combative football, with the strong goalkeeper Bono, with the former Dortmund Achraf Hakimi.
In the course of the tournament, this team, which no one had taken seriously, gained many fans – and then sensationally made it through the last four through surprising victories against Spain (3-0 after penalty shootout) and Portugal (1-0). Nobody has previously formulated great goals or ambitions, the team was able to play carefree without the great pressure to succeed. That must now be the benchmark for us.
It honors national coach Julian Nagelsmann that he has agreed to want to win the title at the 2026 World Cup. Because of course it is clear: a German team does not go to a big tournament to shoot thumb. I also don’t think anything of the Olympic motto “There is everything” – for me a terrible saying, at least from the perspective of a nation that is always ahead. But if you are honest, you have to say: This is not a reality assessment of your own skills. The national coach lacks realism.