National soccer team
Nagelsmann does not tolerate Larifari: “Must use the game”
A large North League final including EM revanche in Munich was planned. Instead of against Spain’s wizard, however, the DFB team is only concerned with third place against France – and yet a lot.
Larifari game? Kick around the golden pineapple? A relaxed end of the season? The carotid artery swells with Julian Nagelsmann in such classification of the consolation price game for third place in the Nations League against France. Spain’s football magic for miracle boy Lamine Yamal had played the vice world champion’s stamp ensemble in the 5: 4 spectacle in the second semi-finals.
“If anyone does not understand that we have to use the game for ourselves …”, said the national coach, who almost threatened the possible consequences for the addressee in the unfinished sentence. These are his players, who are supposed to show a positive reaction against the also disappointed French after the big semi-final forecast against Portugal on Sunday (3:00 p.m./RTL and DAZN). It sounded like a mandatory game – for the upcoming World Cup season.
“If anyone doesn’t understand …”
Sure, Nagelsmann also preferred to play the grand finale for the Nation League title in Munich on Sunday evening and did not open the final day of the final four tournament with the DFB team. But it doesn’t matter what happens in the Stuttgart stadium. Especially after only ten caps until the World Cup kick-off.
The chief coach expresses it drastically: “We have no tolerance to give something. It is less about third place. We have to use the game for ourselves. If we play a top game and become fourth, I can live better than if we play a shitty game and become third.”
After the title chance is gone, the Nation’s League endplacement is actually secondary. The feeling of going into the summer break with the coach, team and fans is primarily a feeling and then starting the qualification for the World Cup finals in the summer of 2026 in the second half of 2025.
Even if title claims for the time being, even in the event of a third prestige success against the French around star strikers Kylian Mbappé, are for the time being. “It will be important that we show the right reaction that we get a good feeling again,” said captain Joshua Kimmich.
Völler’s reminder: “Stop on”
In the DFB camp in Herzogenaurach, some immediate measures were taken. DFB sports director Rudi Völler reported in the ARD interview of a long meeting in which failure against Portugal was discussed.
The Stuttgart local hero Nick Woltemade remained with the A-Team after his debut in Munich and did not travel early for the U21 selection. The training originally scheduled for Friday morning was also relocated to the Sunday kick -off time. That should also contribute to the focus.
“In any case, we have to put a shovel on it,” Völler warned. The infinitely experienced sports director, ex-team boss and ex-professional searched for an explanation for the tab appear in the semi-finals. “Maybe we were a bit spoiled by the last many successful and good games that we played,” said the 65-year-old: “At the very highest level, if you do a few percent less, it is not enough.”
Not even against the French, who the DFB team was able to beat twice in a row; Once in September 2023 after the separation of national coach Hansi Flick with Völler as interim team leader in the 2-1 in Dortmund and in March 2024 with Nagelsmann in the 2-0 test in Lyon. An appearance like Portugal will not meet again for a new victory. “We talked again about the level of energy,” said attacker Deniz Undav about the meeting in the team quarters.
Kimmich sees greater stability
The captain believes in his team, even if the many top -class failures from Jamal Musiala to Antonio Rüdiger to Kai Havertz reduce the quality more than many thought before the final tournament. “We are significantly more stable than a year and a half ago. That’s why I don’t think that a defeat completely throws us back,” said Kimmich before his 101st international.
Nagelsmann could try new, fresh, hungry forces. For example, with the Stuttgart good mood kicker Undav and the Dortmund Tempodribbler Karim Adeyemi in the offensive, which is not delivered against Portugal, to scorer Florian Wirtz and perspective player Woltemade. At the back the wobble defense around the Neu-Münchner Jonathan Tah has to rehabilitate.
After the “lesson” against European champion Spain, France’s national coach Didier Deschamp also announced some changes in his team because of the short recovery time until Sunday. He saw frightening frightening at the nine goal festival on his own defensive, but also “a lot of potential in attack” about Bayern professional Michael Olise. It is also not a Larifari game for the French either. Real star Mbappé felt “destroyed” after the Spanish demonstration.
dpa
Source: Stern
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