Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland. The European Championship preliminary round is certain for Julian Nagelsmann. Before that, the national coach is planning significant changes to the DFB selection. How many national players have to tremble?
Julian Nagelsmann started the long journey home from Hamburg to Munich after his stressful day at the European Championships as a passenger with the hope of getting a little rest. The national coach is likely to give his national players sleepless nights with his change announcement.
“I have a clear opinion about all the players,” said the 36-year-old after the draw for the group phase for the 2024 European Football Championship, which was very successful for him – for some, the dream of playing at home could suddenly come to an end in March be far away.
The timetable
Before the European Championship opening game against Scotland on June 14th in Munich and the following group games against Hungary in Stuttgart (June 19th) and in Frankfurt/Main against Switzerland (June 23rd), two test matches are initially planned. First in France and then against the Netherlands, Nagelsmann wants to make amends with the DFB selection for the sometimes desolate performances in November against Turkey (2:3) and in Vienna against Austria (0:2).
The national team is “not a team that comes onto the pitch and plays away the opponent,” said Nagelsmann. But that’s exactly what the German fans are hoping for at the home tournament. Compared to Groups B with Spain, Croatia, Italy and Albania and D with the Netherlands, Austria, France and one qualifier, German Group A is at least composed in such a way that winning the group must be the clear German goal.
“We have respect for all opponents, but they also have respect for us,” said DFB President Bernd Neuendorf. Sports director Rudi Völler said the group was “very balanced. I will be careful not to say that there is the absolute top favorite.” It is always best “if you come first in the group”. That’s why Nagelsmann wants a change.
The measures
“There is no radical cure now that we leave ten players at home and invite ten new ones, but there will be some changes in the structure because we also have a changed national team in terms of self-image and in the way we perform,” said Nagelsmann, who drove to Hamburg after the onset of winter in the south. There is a certain amount of leeway for the 36-year-old between ten new players and none. With the exception of Kevin Trapp in goal as a substitute, practically no national player was convincing in November.
The coaching team may also be rethinking the 4-2-2-2 tactic recently used, with which Nagelsmann caused a stir with Kai Havertz as a flying left full-back. “It will affect content areas, but also affect the structure a little,” said the national coach – and only mentioned one name on Saturday evening.
The number one
Captain Manuel Neuer will return to the squad “if he stays healthy and plays like he does now,” confirmed Nagelsmann. The race for the European Championship place in the German goal will be a main topic surrounding the DFB selection in March.
Marc-André ter Stegen missed the November games due to injury, which was perhaps bearable for him given the results, but it cost him valuable minutes of play. Neuer will return with the aim of experiencing the home European Championship on the field for the entire season – at the start in front of tens of thousands of Scottish fans in the Munich arena.
Source: Stern
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