EM-Aus - Grief is followed by defiance: Nagelsmann sees a perspective
Niclas Füllkrug sent a true love message to the fans. Julian Nagelsmann looked at the WM 2026 in North America with a curious and optimistic gaze. The pain of the unfortunate 1:2 after extra time against Spain, the elimination in the EURO quarterfinals, and the premature end of title dreams at home quickly gave way to a feeling among the German football team that much had been achieved and even more was possible.
At his most emotional media appearance as the national team coach, Nagelsmann also looked back to the autumn of 2023. After the 0:2 against Austria, the players had figuratively "made themselves scarce" from the field after they had done their job rather poorly. That was different at the EURO. "We had an overwhelming sense of community," said Nagelsmann. He had not had to discipline a single professional.
Perspective
"We wanted to win every game, we invested a lot. The boys should just take that with them," said Nagelsmann. And it's not over yet. "In eight weeks, there's the Nations League again," looked the German team coach ahead.
Personal
Toni Kroos was bid farewell with emotional words and great tributes to his football retirement. The farewell of the great conductor and stabilizer - or as Nagelsmann called him, the most successful German footballer in the long term - was known in advance. Other changes are looming.
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is expected to decide in the coming months whether he will play for Germany again. This also sounded like a hint. Thomas Müller could make a decision for the end of his DFB career sooner - perhaps even this weekend. "It could be that it was the last national team game," said Müller.
Nagelsmann announced personnel changes, i.e., a renewal of the squad. In Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, two protagonists of the future are firmly established as fixed points. Aleksandar Pavlovic, who missed the EURO due to illness, is another prospect, as is Maximilian Beier, who got Joker minutes against Switzerland.
Goals
This announcement may sound grandiose. But with all the sadness, Nagelsmann quickly brightened up again and looked towards new goals. The WM 2026 is still two years away, but it is already present in his mind. "The saddest thing is that a home EURO in my career is unlikely to come again. That hurts. And the fact that we have to wait two years to become world champions also hurts," said the German team coach.
After this statement, Nagelsmann paused for a moment - and then grinned towards the journalists: "You like that statement, your eyes are wide. What should I say, that we'll be eliminated in the group stage? Of course, we want to be world champions, that's what every team that participates in the qualifiers wants."
Handball controversy
Nagelsmann felt betrayed by referee Anthony Taylor despite the missed penalty call on the handball of the Spaniard Marc Cucurella. But Nagelsmann still demanded a rule adjustment: If the ball had gone as clearly towards the goal as after Jamal Musiala's shot, it should have been a penalty - regardless of the bend of the arm.
Robots can now make coffee, so there must be some Artificial Intelligence giving the ball's flight path calculation, argued Nagelsmann. The main reason for the loss, however, was not in the decision, according to the national trainer. But Manuel Neuer made it clear that he wished for an intervention from the video referees. And experienced Thomas Muller summed it up nearly philosophically: "The hand is a very complicated thing", he said.
Fan Feeling
This performance remains independent of the missed title: The German national team has won back the hearts of the fans after years of malaise. The whole country rejoiced, celebrated, and then suffered together. Niclas Füllkrug, the fans' favorite, expressed the new love emotionally. "Thank you, many of you, for the wonderful feeling you have given us. It was beautiful to fight for you on the pitch. Shame it was only until the quarterfinals. You are undoubtedly superior", said the Dortmund forward.
Nagelsmann even placed a message that goes beyond every sporting aspect. "That's what the boys should take away, that a country that falls too much into sadness, constantly falls into sadness and into black-and-white, that they have managed to revive it a bit and give it beautiful moments. I hope that this symbiosis between football fans and football team also finds its place in society", said the national trainer in Stuttgart's stadium.
The European Championship summer could have an aftereffect. "That we understand that as a collective society we can move much more than when everyone cooks their own soup and wants to be more individualistic than their neighbor", said Nagelsmann. We must make one more tick together in Germany.
- The German national soccer team, led by coach Julian Nagelsmann, is looking forward to the Nations League in eight weeks.
- Toni Kroos, a key player for the national team, expressed his emotions during his retirement farewell.
- Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is considering his future in international soccer, potentially deciding in the coming months.
- Manager Nagelsmann announced personnel changes for the team, including the inclusion of young stars like Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz.
- Bavaria native Niclas Füllkrug sent a heartfelt message of love to the nation's soccer fans following the team's elimination in the EURO quarterfinals.
- Thomas Müller hinted at a possible end to his DFB career, potentially during an upcoming match.
- Germany's disappointment at missing out on the EURO title was offset by the renewal of fan support and love for the team.
- In Baden-Württemberg, Nagelsmann emphasized that the team's performance had revived and brought a sense of unity to the country.
- Looking ahead to the World Cup in North America in 2026, Nagelsmann expressed his ambition for the national team to emerge as world champions.
- Austria and Spain, among other European nations, will also compete in the FIFA World Cup, further raising the international stage of the competition.
- Facing potential challenges and opportunities, the German soccer team's renewed spirit and unity from the Nations League will be crucial for future victories.
