Setting the course in Vienna: Nagelsmann has a duty to deliver
Julian Nagelsmann has no time for the pre-Christmas atmosphere at the Prater and St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. For good reasons, the national coach will not be taking a ride on the Ferris wheel, eating candy floss or drinking a warming mulled wine at one of the wooden stalls that have already been set up.
After the sobering and confusing relapse against Turkey, the next emotional European Championship test in Austria on Tuesday (20:45/ZDF) is the last chance to go into the year of the home European Championships with a reasonably good feeling.
This will be followed by a long four-month international break. This can be very tough if the national soccer team is tainted by the stigma of another defeat at their arch-rivals. The last impression always sticks. And then, on December 2, the Netherlands or Italy also loom as possible group opponents in the European Championship draw.
"No one is seeded"
"No one is seeded and everyone is invited to give their best," Nagelsmann repeated after the frustrating 3-2 defeat in Berlin. The clear message: no one can let up now.
The Austrian capital gave the DFB squad an almost frosty welcome after the short flight from Berlin. With an initial analysis of the defeat in his luggage, Nagelsmann set about the final preparations for the duel and reunion with Ralf Rangnick. The 36-year-old would certainly like to win the personal tactics competition with the German coaching guru in the service of Austrias for selfish reasons. After three games, he already has the worst starting record as national coach since Erich Ribbeck in 1998.
Havertz's role under scrutiny
Above all, however, soccer Germany is now waiting for answers from the national coach. The permanent symptoms of the unsuccessful Flick era were immediately apparent again against Turkey when Nagelsmann tried something (rather crazy) tactically with Kai Havertz at left-back. They were sloppy with their chances up front and tended to be confused at the back. The home European Championship will definitely not be another summer fairytale.
So what solutions does Nagelsmann offer against the currently quite confident Austrians? Whether Kevin Trapp is back in goal to replace Marc-André ter Stegen, who has a back problem, or whether one of the newcomers Oliver Baumann and Janis Blaswich is allowed to start is still the least important component. The Havertz experiment was even an option for the European Championship, as the national coach had already hinted at continuity in this position. And the former Bayern coach can be stubborn enough to go against public opinion.
But will Mats Hummels also work in the remaining back three in this bold system? Or will the veteran, who has quickly become a leading figure, fall through the tactical cracks due to his lack of pace? It also remains to be seen who exactly Nagelsmann was referring to when he spoke of a lack of emotion in some players. Julian Brandt had provided plenty of arguments for this against Turkey. In the absence of the injured Jamal Musiala, however, Havertz could take over his position so well.
Partner for Gündogan
But the key question remains: what to do with Joshua Kimmich? All the components speak in favor of moving him back to the right-back position. A stability gap would be closed there, and there would be room in the center back six alongside captain Ilkay Gündogan for an urgently needed real ball-winner like Pascal Groß. That worked excellently in America against the USA (3:1) and Mexico (2:2), when Kimmich was absent with a fever.
Nagelsmann had announced that he wanted to find a place in the team for all the top players - even if it meant playing Havertz at left-back. Trying to please everyone with playing time was a cardinal mistake made by predecessor Hansi Flick during the World Cup disaster in Qatar. This may also explain the shocked reactions of fans and experts to the new national coach's personnel changes.
The task in Vienna will not be easy. Austria is in a bit of a soccer frenzy with Rangnick. "The Austrians have a really good team. If you go through the first eleven or even 13, 14, there are some really good players who are regulars at the absolute top clubs in Europe," Rudi Völler told Bayerischer Rundfunk.
Völler praises Rangnick
"Bringing them together is Ralf Rangnick's work, he's done a good job so far," said the DFB sports director, praising the team building in the neighboring country, which is still to come for Nagelsmann. "I believe that they will not only make life difficult for us in Vienna, but will also play a good European Championship," predicted Völler.
The opponents are not lacking in self-confidence for the Germany duel and the European Championship. "We're not without a chance, we've played well in qualifying, we're in a good mood and we're a really great team. We will make it as difficult as possible for Germany and make sure we win the game," said Christoph Baumgartner from RB Leipzig, one of many Bundesliga professionals in the Austria squad. And a little banter always goes a long way anyway. "We're not coming here just to be here, we want to show what we skiers can do."
In the context of preparing for the European Championship test against Austria, Julian Nagelsmann emphasized that "no one is seeded and everyone is invited to give their best." Nagelsmann and the German national team will be looking to put an end to the recent string of poor results against their arch-rivals, as a defeat against Austria could lead to unfavorable Group stage opponents in the draw for the home European Championship in December. The German national team, in particular, will be under scrutiny, with many questions surrounding the role of players such as Kai Havertz and Mats Hummels, and the possible return of Kevin Trapp to goalkeeper position.
Source: www.dpa.com
