The national sports squad - Nagelsmann aims for a speedy victory to create a positive atmosphere.
For someone who's always striving for victory, Julian Nagelsmann was partly content with the 0:0 result against Ukraine. There's still work to be done, but no reason to panic during the Euro 2024 preparations. Consequently, the German national team's head coach spoke to the media after their penultimate game before the prominent tournament.
"In general, I'm very pleased. It was a passionate game following a week of training. I'm glad we managed to score a goal, and more were to follow," Nagelsmann expressed in Nuremberg.
With not much time left until their final Euro test against Greece on Friday in Moenchengladbach, the head coach must address some pressing questions.
Is the issue of missed chances going to be resolved soon?
Nagelsmann cited 27 goal attempts against Ukraine but no scores. Some coincidence? Incompetence? Nagelsmann, as an active coach, believes he can rectify the situation by putting in more work. "There were some instances where luck might have played a part. But it's not the easiest thing for a coach to simply say it's just luck. We'll keep training it," the 36-year-old declared.
His intended solution: Bring more players into the penalty area. The head coach anticipates that their first two Euro opponents, Scotland and Hungary, might have similar defensive strategies in their own penalty areas.
What's the status of Manuel Neuer?
After an absence of 18 months, Neuer returned to the DFB goal. And he seemed to have never left. With several impressive saves, the Bayern keeper maintained the zero. But he made a seemingly careless chip ball to the opposition right before the halfway line. Was it a mistake? A misjudgment? Nagelsmann took action to protect his no.1 for the Euro.
"If he misses the catch, if he stands deeper and doesn't play the ball out, then it could become a far more significant mistake with severe consequences," the coach explained about the nerve-wracking moment just before the end, which was only averted due to an offside position of the Ukrainians.
However, the critics who now question Neuer's skills, attribute them to past mistakes in the Bayern goal against Real Madrid and TSG Hoffenheim, and suggest Marc-André ter Stegen as his replacement might be correct. Nagelsmann's opinion, however, is: "Neuer will play an excellent Euro."
Has the starting lineup been determined?
Those who have heard Nagelsmann since March know. The starting lineup has been fixed. It reads: Neuer, Kimmich, Rüdiger, Tah, Mittelstädt, Andrich, Kroos, Musiala, Gündogan, Wirtz, Havertz. Only injuries will prompt changes. However, the good news from their game against Ukraine was that backup players performed well.
Substitutes Waldemar Anton and Pascal Groß replaced Champions League winners Antonio Rüdiger and Toni Kroos without a hitch. Six substitutions in the match didn't cause a drop in performance. "We have the right vibe and ambiance in the team," declared Neuer.
How critical is a win against Greece now?
Nagelsmann was direct about his stance. "Of course, wins are better than draws or losses. We'll approach the game on Friday with the ambition of winning," he stated. He also clarified that the key match on June 14th, against Scotland, is their primary focus. This sentiment holds great importance for fan morale as well.
Nagelsmann stepped back from the window and made a complex yet accurate observation in the nearby team quarters in Herzogenaurach. "If we win against Greece and lose against Scotland, the fans won't say we won against Greece, great. And if we lose against Greece and win against Scotland, no fan will say, but we lost against the Greeks. We'd prefer two wins."
Read also:
- Nagelsmann aims to create a positive atmosphere for the national team by securing a quick victory before the Euro 2024.
- The starting eleven for the German national team seems to be set, with Julian Nagelsmann sticking to his chosen players.
- Manual Neuer, the Bayern goalkeeper, returned to the DFB squad after an 18-month absence, impressing in their game against Ukraine.
- Antonio Rüdiger, a key member of the squad, was replaced by backup players Waldemar Anton and Pascal Groß during the game against Ukraine, but the team's performance remained strong.
- Nagelsmann's strategy for the upcoming Euro 2024 involves pushing more players into the penalty area to exploit their opponents' defensive tactics.
- The German national soccer team faced criticism for missing chances against Ukraine, but Nagelsmann remains optimistic that the situation can be improved with continued training.
- The German national team will face Greece in their final test before the Euro 2024, and a win is crucial to boost morale and keep fan expectations high.
- Marc-André ter Stegen has been suggested as a potential replacement for Manuel Neuer by some critics, but Nagelsmann remains confident that Neuer will shine at the Euro.
- The squad for the Euro 2024 includes players from clubs like Bavaria, Nuremberg, and Mönchengladbach, showcasing the talent and depth of German soccer.
- The 2024 Euro tournament is a significant opportunity for both the individual players and the national team to bring happiness and success to Germany, according to Nagelsmann.
