The "curse of the good deed" weighs heavily on DFB star Wirtz
Florian Wirtz has been playing well in the home European Championship for Germany. However, the young magician in the German football team has a problem: impossible things are expected of him.
Dealing with expectations can be liberating at times. No one seriously expects to arrive on time during a train journey across the country with the German Railways. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz doesn't have to deliver euphoric speeches that bring tears to people's eyes. And national coach Julian Nagelsmann is a hero in principle, as he led the DFB team, which was lying at the bottom eight months ago, into the knockout round. So, in theory.
However, expectations can also become a problem, especially when they become too big. That's a bit the case with Florian Wirtz. The 21-year-old is currently playing a home European Championship on a good level. No one is shouting loudly when this is put that way. He scored a goal in the opening match against Scotland, but then he dropped off a bit. Nevertheless, Wirtz played brilliant passes, created chances, and won two-on-ones. His pass accuracy is almost 94%.
So, everything's okay, or almost? Somehow yes and somehow not really. On Wednesday, Rudi Völler sat in the EM quarters of the German football team in the large press hall and sipped his coffee at the table. Asked about Wirtz, the DFB sports director spoke relatively cryptically that there is still room for improvement. He described it as "the curse of the good deed" that his performances, such as in the 1:1 draw against Switzerland, are "evaluated as average."
The first problem: the position
The problem with expectations is that he could be even better. Wirtz was the heart of the sensational Bayer Leverkusen team last season. The little magician enchanted the football nation time and again: here a clever pass, there an impossible dribble, there his unfathomable quickness. He made people rave, those who had seen the whole football world: "It's not always about making the most brilliant action, but the best and smartest. Florian can do that," said his trainer Xabi Alonso about him. However, at the national team, one doesn't always have the feeling that the Leverkusen Wirtz is on the pitch. After the match against Scotland, two outstanding passes against Switzerland stood out. But not always then.
Wirtz himself cannot do much about it, it's more about his position. He whirls in Nagelsmann's role system next to Jamal Musiala. The two "magicians" receive support from captain Ilkay Gündogan and football father Toni Kroos. The four have so far proven that it works. However, it's a different distribution than at Bayer Leverkusen. Xhaka, the Swiss, leads the way for Leverkusen in a Xhaka-like manner. The similarities end there: In the club, Wirtz plays in the central ten role, is a free spirit, and feels most comfortable there. In the DFB team, he shifts a bit to the wing. The middle belongs to Gündogan and central striker Kai Havertz. Wirtz's brilliant partner, Musiala, seems to understand this much better, as he often moves to an outside position at FC Bayern.
It is not only the difference with the Werkself. The basic structure is also different: At Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz has quick wingers on his side, who give him a lot of space. The full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo mark the wing lines, allowing Wirtz to do many Wirtz things in the middle. Nagelsmann plays with a different system, he doesn't rely on such quick wingers. This makes the DFB-team more predictable, as was observable against Hungary: The game centered mainly around the penalty area, at times even with the three Hungarian forwards, who were defending. There is little space for Wirtz and Musiala.
The classical problems
Moreover, there are then the two classical problems: Most EM stars come from a very long season. But Wirtz's case was also an exceptionally demanding one. The Werkself made the championship clear early, but still chased the legendary unbeaten run. Therefore, Alonso's team had to invest a lot in the late stages of the game.
This meant that although Wirtz had been flagging in recent weeks, the trainer still used him frequently. He was even used in the Europa League semi-final against AS Roma, when the game was on the brink of turning. Wirtz himself was visibly tired, no longer as quick and dynamic. He ended up playing in 49 league matches, only captain Gündogan had more appearances (51).
Clearly, Real Madrid stars Kroos and Antonio Rüdiger are not far from these numbers. However, there is a difference to Wirtz: He missed the Qatar World Cup due to a cruciate ligament injury he suffered in early 2022. This current season is the first one he has largely survived without injury - and at the highest level. A footballer's body can be a fragile entity and needs above all rhythm to avoid the injury cycle.
And, what is often forgotten: When Wirtz sits next to Musiala at the press conference, both exude a relaxed charm that is contagious. But: He is only 21 years old and already a fan favorite, one of the home EM's hopefuls. The autograph sessions with him are completely overwhelmed, around DFB games many fans can be observed wearing his number 17 jersey. The pressure on him for the home European championship is immense, like that on all other DFB stars, who are in constant focus. Against Denmark (21.00 hours/ZDF, MagentaTV and in the ntv.de-Live ticker), he will play his first knockout game at a major tournament for the first time.
One who has already been through all this is Rudi Völler. When he played his first tournament, the EM 1984, he was already 24 years old. Back then, he was already Footballer of the Year, German vice-champion, and top scorer. Today, he is above all content with the national team. And also with Wirtz's play. Together with Musiala, he said during the week, "it's always associated with some risk, but that's what we need - the courage to go into the dribbles". And that's what few do in the football world these days. That's why the expectations are so high.
Despite Florian Wirtz's impressive performances in the European Football Championship 2024 for the German national soccer team, his position under manager Julian Nagelsmann and the high expectations placed upon him could potentially limit his full potential. Jamal Musiala, also in Nagelsmann's system, seems to be more adaptable to the changes in position, showcasing his skills on the wing more often.
Furthermore, the pressure on Wirtz, being a fan favorite and one of the German team's hopefuls, is immense. His youth, at just 21 years old, and the high expectations may adversely impact his performance in high-pressure moments, like in the upcoming knockout game against Denmark.
