Reactions to DFB embarrassment: “That must not happen to us”

It was a historical bankruptcy with which the German national team started the World Cup qualification. A DFB team had never lost a World Cup qualifier away-until this evening in Bratislava. With a disappointing performance, Germany lost 0: 2 against Slovakia.

Above all, the manner of defeat makes the alarm bells shrill in football Germany. The German players only ran after the nominally weaker Slovaks most of the time. The disappointment with the DFB is correspondingly great. The press goes to court with the national team and already sees the qualification for the tournament at risk next summer.

National coach Julian Nagelsmann: “In the case of emotionality, the opponent was miles from the first to the last minute. This is a fact. Terrifyingly comes that such an opponent with more emotionality also brings significantly more quality than we do. In general, we should have to rely on the World Cup. Maybe we have to rely on less quality, but on players who throw everything in today.”

DFB sports director Rudi Völler: “It was not only disappointing, it was a lifeless idea. It continued what we unfortunately saw in the two Nation League games (against Portugal and France), of course better opponents than the Slovak. In the second half it was a bit better, but not really good.”

Captain Joshua Kimmich: “Of course this is a printing situation. And we all know what is at stake. And I expect that you notice it against Northern Ireland. It was not due to any system, some tactic, chain of four. We missed the greed. We were not handy. We were not poisonous in the duplication. We did not support ourselves. Complete.

“Kicker”: “What a debacle! What a disgrace! Everything, absolutely everything that Nagelsmann has made for the start of the World Cup qualification, did not work in the first disastrous 45 minutes. (…) The 1-0 break of Slovakia was consistent on the one hand, on the other hand it was almost too low due to a chance of 6: 2. Presumably still effective.

“Süddeutsche Zeitung”: “The national team is now under pressure in this supposedly not so fearsome group. A DFB-Elf has not been so badly defended for a long time, and the fact that, in addition to goalkeeper Marc-André Ter, Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Tim Kleindienst and Nico Schlotterbeck were lacking, especially as a slow-factor; especially since the Slovak The best line-up.

“Picture”: “What do we want with the World Cup, Mr. Nagelsmann? The national coach has to be very careful not to finally play the euphoria that he worked with the team after taking office. After the quarter-finals at home 2024, which was made much better due to the euphoria than it was sporty, he said: ‘We want to become world champion.’ So you have to be happy if we are there at all. “

“Editorial network Germany”: “The national team SOS. At the goal of becoming world champion in the coming year, Nagelsmann only holds out on principle, so as not to stand up as someone who says this today and tomorrow. The evening in Slovakia was a call for help of the DFB selection, in every respect: playful, tactical, personnel, only: Who should help the players if Nagelsmann himself is helpless?”