National team - Nagelsmann's gentle rebuilding: Big instead of Kroos and a Stiller
The suffering role of the spectators at the EURO semi-final matches will not only affect German fans but also the national team players and Julian Nagelsmann due to an early vacation start. However, the classic football match between England and the Netherlands is an essential duty for Nagelsmann's coaching staff in preparation for the upcoming national team matches in the Nations League.
In eight weeks, there will be a prestigious showdown against the eternal rival Holland in the next DFB selection. This top game in Group 3 marks the start of the way to the next major goal on September 10 in Amsterdam, along with the home game against Hungary three days earlier in Düsseldorf. Nagelsmann stated this directly after the knockout against Spain in the quarterfinals: "We want to become world champions!" He said it casually: "A golden trophy is also quite nice."
The "ugly" part of the national team job
Nagelsmann has truly grown to love the Bundestrainer job in the weeks of the home EURO. The 36-year-old is passionate about the position he considered an isolated EURO project at the beginning of his tenure in October. "I'm very happy that I extended it," he confirmed. The "ugly" part of the national team job is that he now has to wait two years until the next tournament, the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
That's a lot of time. Time that Nagelsmann barely had before the EURO. Sporting director Rudi Völler also emphasizes the time factor, who, although he recorded the re-established connection between fans and the national team as an overarching tournament success, still wants more.
"We want to go as far as possible. We want to stay until the end in the USA. That's the commitment to confirm the performance," said Völler: "But I'm totally optimistic because Julian has managed to create a team spirit that unfortunately only took us to the quarterfinals but has excited the masses."
Nagelsmann wants to nurture the new, strong sense of community in the team. That's why he made another radical break. "We have a solid base of players who are 26, 27, 28, and will definitely play in the next World Cup," said Nagelsmann. Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan Tah, Kai Havertz, Nico Schlotterbeck, David Raum, Maximilian Mittelstaedt, and possibly a really fit Leroy Sané belong to this age group.
"We have put together a good team, and we only need to make nuances adjustments," Nagelsmann emphasized at the heavy farewell from the home ground in Herzogenaurach. The U30 fraction must be significantly reduced, however. Germany had the oldest squad at the EURO, and that has to change, Nagelsmann said during the tournament.
The U30 fraction needs to be thinned out
Toni Kroos (34) will surely retire. The goalkeepers Manuel Neuer (38) and Oliver Baumann (34) are candidates. Thomas Müller (34) and Emre Can (30) also are. Ilkay Gündogan (33) is planned to remain as captain, Antonio Rüdiger (31) as the defensive chief, and Pascal Groß (33) as an option for the Kroos position.
"Toni cannot be replaced one-to-one. But Pascal can do it in a similar style," said Nagelsmann. Additionally, fan favorite Niclas Füllkrug (31) comes from the older player generation. "Of course, it's important to have types like him. But the footballing quality is the most important thing," expressed the former team coach Völler.
Besides Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz (both 21), Nagelsmann has other talents in sight or has even named them directly. Bayern's Aleksandar Pavlovic (20), who missed the EM due to an infection, and for the first time also the Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller (23) will be there in September.
The Mainz player Brajan Gruda (20) and the Gladbach player Rocco Reitz (22) were already able to train with the EM preparation as guests. They are prospective players for the WM. This summer, not everything has been sorted out yet to go to the last tournament week instead of the strong Spanish, English, French, and Dutch teams. "One has seen that we still have construction sites," said Nagelsmann. After the holiday, he will address them.
- Despite the early vacation for the German team after the EURO semi-finals, Nagelsmann's coaching staff sees the match against England in the Nations League as essential preparation.
- The upcoming DFB selection includes a challenging game against Holland in Group 3, followed by a home game against Hungary in Düsseldorf, both crucial steps towards the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
- Nagelsmann expressed his desire to become world champions, casually mentioning the appeal of a golden trophy.
- Rudi Völler, the sporting director, acknowledges the need for more time before the next major tournament, but remains optimistic about the team's performance and team spirit.
- Nagelsmann has grown to love the Bundestrainer job and appreciates the strong sense of community within the team, which he aims to nurture for the upcoming World Cup.
- To achieve this, Nagelsmann plans to make nuances adjustments and thin out the U30 fraction, which was the oldest at the EURO.
- Toni Kroos, Thomas Müller, Emre Can, and Ilkay Gündogan are among the older players who might not be part of the team for the 2026 World Cup.
- Nagelsmann sees potential replacements in Pascal Groß and Angelo Stiller, who have been noted by the coach for their similar playstyles.
- Young talents like Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Brajan Gruda, and Rocco Reitz are also being considered for the World Cup squad.
- The main challenge for Nagelsmann after the EURO break will be addressing the team's construction sites to ensure they can compete with strong teams like England, Spain, France, and the Netherlands in the future.
- The Dutch national team will also be a rival for Germany in their journey to the 2026 World Cup, making their Nations League match a significant test of their preparations.
- Besides the 2026 World Cup, the German national team will also participate in the UEFA Nations League and other international competitions, keeping them active in the world of soccer.
