Julian Nagelsmann starts with the German national soccer team. The upcoming international matches against the USA and Mexico are more than just initial indicators for the new national coach. The time until the European Championships is running out. There are still a lot of issues that need to be addressed in the DFB selection.
sport.de analyzes what Julian Nagelsmann has to tackle as the new national coach of the national soccer team.
Continuity in defense
The German national team has a defensive problem. In the last ten international matches, the DFB team only failed to concede a goal in the 2-0 friendly against Peru. During his tenure, Hansi Flick didn’t find a defensive formation that he trusted. Nagelsmann’s predecessor changed personnel in the back line again and again and tried out a three-man and four-man chain. The necessary stability was not found.
Nagelsmann now has to solve the defensive puzzle. The 36-year-old relies on Mats Hummels, who played no role under Flick. Nagelsmann emphasized the reasons for Hummels’ DFB comeback. The 2014 world champion is currently performing very well at Borussia Dortmund and also has a “great tactical understanding.”
It is quite possible that the BVB professional will again play a key role in the national team. Club colleague Nico Schlotterbeck, however, was not taken into account after his recent shaky performances in the DFB uniform.
“The door is never closed,” emphasized Nagelsmann, with a view to returning to the home European Championships. The national coach should do everything he can to finally restore continuity in the defense.
There is also little time for experiments in the other parts of the team. Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Ilkay Gündogan are the top dogs in the central midfield. Robert Andrich and Pascal Groß are on the USA tour as challengers. BVB captain Emre Can, however, was not nominated.
Leroy Sané is likely to be on the wing for FC Bayern due to his fabulous performances. Stuttgart’s Chris Führich could get his chance in the starting line-up in the absence of Serge Gnabry, who has a forearm injury.
In the offensive midfield, Nagelsmann is spoiled for choice with the two young stars Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz as well as veteran Thomas Müller. There are two real center forwards for the attack: Niclas Füllkrug and Kevin Behrens. Meanwhile, Kai Havertz, who is traveling because of dental surgery, rarely acted as a classic center forward under Flick, but rather as a false nine.
No experimenting with the false nine
However, Havertz was hardly convincing in this role. The blame for this does not necessarily lie with the Arsenal professional, as he can make much better use of his qualities as a playmaker and preparer in the attacking midfield.
With Füllkrug in attack, the national team recently posed more danger in the opposing penalty area. The New Dortmund player’s record is impressive with seven goals from nine international matches so far.
The attacker is now putting everything on Nagelsmann, as he confessed in an interview with “Sport Bild”. “We just have to support him as best as possible in implementing his ideas sensibly. Then we’ll get back on the road to success,” said the 30-year-old. Does this formula work so easily? Uncertain! Filler jug goals would certainly help. The experiments with a false nine, however, must be shelved.
Ignite EM euphoria and clear communication
Nagelsmann needs results in the upcoming international matches against the USA (October 14th) and Mexico (October 18th) in order to improve the (bad) mood around the national team in this country.
The new national coach has “this ability” to spark enthusiasm for his game idea, said DFB sports director Rudi Völler to “Welt am Sonntag”.
In addition to a new tactical coat of paint, the national team also needs clear communication between now and the home European Championships. Personnel decisions must be clearly justified if the fans are to be woken up from their slumber. After three messed up tournaments, the trend finally needs to turn around. Time is running out.
Jannik Kube