European Championship quarter-finals - Nagelsmann: Stop Yamal, but "don't knock my socks off"
Julian Nagelsmann is looking forward to Spain's wunderkind Jamine Yamal, who will face some German resistance in the EURO quarterfinals. "He doesn't have too much experience at this level yet. When things don't go as planned or when an opponent is tougher, we'll see how he reacts.", said the German national team coach before the match for the semi-final qualification on the evening (18.00 Uhr/ARD and MagentaTV). The DFB defense will pay particular attention to the 16-year-old.
Nagelsmann made it clear in the international press conference of the German football team on Thursday evening in Stuttgart that there is no obligation to take Yamal out of the game. "We don't want to take the ball away from him. We want to have the ball ourselves." Who defends against him on the left against wing player Yamal, David Raum or Maximilian Mittelstadt, Nagelsmann did not reveal beforehand.
Focus less on Yamal, more on Jamal
The German national team coach described the youngest tournament player, who will be 17 years old a day before the EURO final, as an interesting player. "He is a very big talent. I believe there are not many who have played so stably throughout the year in their young years", said Nagelsmann, looking at Yamal's performances for FC Barcelona.
"He has great qualities, very good one-on-one. But he is just 16. That also brings great chances for our players to counteract. He won't always be defended against because he is very variable. He goes inside and outside. Of course, his left foot is much stronger than his right", analyzed Nagelsmann. For him, it is more important whether Yamal can stamp his mark on the German offensive play. "My focus is less on Yamal, more on Jamal", said Nagelsmann.
Gündogan impressed by the young Barça colleague
National team captain Ilkay Gündogan knows Yamal well from the club. "Lamine is of course extremely advanced for his age. What the youngster has achieved with Barcelona at 16 years old, there's not much to compare it to. Especially when you look at where you were yourself at 16 years old, it's a completely different place."
With his way of playing football and the risk he takes, Yamal is "already an extremely important player for the Spanish national team and also the next decade for FC Barcelona", assessed the 33-year-old Gündogan.
The DFB team will closely watch Yamal's performance against Germany, given his impressive displays with FC Barcelona in Spain's youth setup. Jaroslav Silhavy, the Czech Republic coach, shared his admiration for the young talent, mentioning that his team will need to be cautious.
Nagelsmann's Stuttgart side will face FC Barcelona in the upcoming season, providing an opportunity for Gundogan to potentially share the pitch with his young teammate once again. The midfielder from Baden-Württemberg praised Yamal's maturity and abilities, considering him a valuable asset for both his national team and club.
This season, Stuttgart will host several high-profile matches, including the clash against FC Barcelona. The club's loyal fans, who often watch the games on ARD, will be eager to witness how Nagelsmann manages his team against the Spanish giants.
Jamie's journey in soccer has been nothing short of remarkable, with his performances at Barcelona echoing throughout the European soccer scene. His potential to impact both the national team and club football has caused a significant buzz in Soccer circles, particularly in Germany and Spain.
The German national team's strategy against the Spanish youngster will be crucial in their fight for a spot in the EURO semi-finals. With the eyes of millions tuning into ARD and MagentaTV, Nagelsmann's tactics and the team's performance will be under intense scrutiny.
Despite the pressure, Nagelsmann remains optimistic, emphasizing that the team's focus should be on their own performance rather than solely on the opposition. With such a mindset, the German coach hopes to bring out the best in his players and secure a valuable victory.
With such talented young players like Yamal and himself contributing to the national team and their respective clubs, soccer fans can expect an exciting future for the sport in both Germany and Spain.
