Julian Nagelsmann wants to take the momentum from his USA premiere with him for his first home appearance. Information about the home European Championships is now expected from the national coach.
A young star injured, a goalkeeper icon waiting and the eternal search for number 9: Julian Nagelsmann faces several personnel questions before his home debut as national coach. When the 36-year-old announces his squad for the national soccer team’s final international test matches this year on Friday, information is expected on how the 2024 home European Championship can be a success. Important for Nagelsmann: The enthusiasm of the USA trip should be shown again immediately against Turkey and in Austria.
The Kimmich question
Joshua Kimmich left America in October with a fever. England professional Pascal Groß brilliantly filled the suddenly vacant six-man position alongside captain İlkay Gündoğan against the USA (3:1) and Mexico (2:2). There was quick talk of Kimmich as the first Nagelsmann loser. Certainly premature. Nevertheless, the personnel is not without explosiveness. The alternative of moving Kimmich to the problem position at the back right sounds tempting. Nagelsmann sees it very pragmatically: “If Josh is better than others, he is set.”
The Musiala question
Jamal Musiala sits on the grass in pain. Nagelsmann didn’t like this picture from Wednesday evening from Munich’s Allianz Arena. The 20-year-old’s muscle injury will almost certainly prevent the youth research experiment in the creative headquarters with Florian Wirtz and Musiala from continuing. “Why shouldn’t the two of them always be able to play together? It’s about having the best players on the pitch,” said the national coach in America. The current alternatives? Musiala’s Bayern colleague Serge Gnabry could return after breaking his arm. Debutant Chris Führich from VfB Stuttgart generally made a big impression overseas.
The goalkeeper question
Manuel Neuer is not back yet. But present again from now on. And the goalkeeper icon’s words must sound like a warning to the current number one, Marc-André ter Stegen. “No matter what team I play in, I always want to be on the pitch,” said Neuer, who is currently making a very solid comeback after a ten-month break due to his broken leg at FC Bayern. One thing is clear: If Ter Stegen shows weaknesses, Neuer is there immediately. And if necessary, it would displace its competitor from FC Barcelona in the short term, as it did before the 2018 World Cup. The goalkeeper question promises to be quite explosive in the run-up to the European Championships at the latest.
The striker question
Niclas Füllkrug is number one on the nine. As a center forward and goal provider, the BVB attacker is undisputed. But Nagelsmann is planning to have a powerful striker in his 4-2-2-2 system and is therefore looking for a backup. Thomas Müller was only a supplementary player in the position in America, a renewed appointment of Kevin Behrens from 1. FC Union would be a surprise. After his debut against Mexico, the Berliner admitted that he was “not used to training and playing at such a level.” The top candidate for a DFB premiere is Philipp Tietz, who recently scored in a row at FC Augsburg. “I’m honored that my name was mentioned in connection with Julian Nagelsmann. But I think I have to stay on the carpet,” said Tietz.
Source: Stern
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