Thomas Müller gives Football-Germany a final gift
A very big one is leaving the DFB stage: Thomas Müller. It's right that he makes this decision after the Home-EM to receive the deserved recognition. The German team of national coach Julian Nagelsmann functions well without him.
The tears are a few days old, the emotions have settled, and the gaze into the future is clear: Thomas Müller will no longer play for the German Football National Team. The oldest field player of the squad for the Home-European Championship closes the DFB-Team chapter. He says "farewell to the Bundesadler". This time definitively. And this decision is the right one.
The tears in his eyes and those of his brother on the bench had suggested it. The Müllers had already felt it in the bitter Viertelfinal loss against Spain (1:2 n.V.): This was the last act, the curtain was closing. "Realistically, it could be that this was my last national team game. I will discuss this with the national coach," Müller had also told the press. And this discussion went quickly. The day after the end of the Home-EM, he made his farewell public. He had been thinking about it for a while. However, it is also the only sensible decision that he and Julian Nagelsmann could make.
And yet, there was supposedly a "stalemate situation". Müller had emphasized that he would never explain his retirement as a national player. And Nagelsmann had said about the possible departures of Müller, Manuel Neuer and Co.: "In the end, I find that such big players are also absolutely in the lead, that they themselves evaluate and decide what is best for their career." There is no place for a clear decision in this - that one was made anyway, is commendable.
Müller had played for 40 minutes against Spain, and before the tournament, he had only been in action for 16 minutes in his Allianz Arena in Munich. He came on with joyful "Müller, Müller" cheers and even prepared Emre Can's goal for the 5:1 final score. However, the times when Müller was a regular starter, a heavyweight of the DFB team, are long gone. Nagelsmann had not seen Müller's main role on the field before the EM: "Connector" he was, a "lubricant" for the good mood of the younger players with the older ones. He was also something like the "extended arm" of the trainer team, Nagelsmann had said. "He helps the young players," was the opinion of Rudi Völler.
The Young Ones Can Do Without Thomas Müller
However, everyone has now seen: The young ones in the team can do it without Thomas Müller. On the field, Havertz, Musiala and Co. have taken his place. Nagelsmann's offensive play is successful, even without a constant troublemaker confusing the opposing defense. Against Spain, it was evident that he had lost considerable tempo. His last goal in the DFB jersey he scored in September 2023 in the 2:1 win against France under Rudi Völler. The last tournament game in which he scored was the legendary 7:1 in the World Cup semifinal against Brazil. That had long since passed its ten-year anniversary. Müller had never scored in a European Championship.
And off the field, it fits well in the team: The players unanimously praised the atmosphere and good mood. Deniz Undav provided the catchphrases, Joshua Kimmich, David Raum and Robert Andrich were responsible for the funny actions in the DFB Inside Videos. The new crowd favorite is BVB striker Niclas Füllkrug.
It is therefore reasonable that Müller and the DFB go their separate ways from now on. Müller would otherwise not be invited and his performance for the national team would have been in vain. This was almost the case. After the WM debacle in 2018, he was not considered by the then national coach Joachim Löw. In 2021, he made a comeback at Löw's farewell tournament, was there for the WM 2022, but missed the following half year after another debacle. Better an honest end.
Müller's charisma benefits the national team coach with his retirement, which he had once ruled out: Müller's charisma is so great that Nagelsmann would have to explain at upcoming squad presentations why the World Cup winner is not there. A young successor would be measured against the former benchwarmer. So Nagelsmann can drive the rebuilding of the DFB team, which was still in ruins half a year ago, towards the future. Without having to cater to the public's feelings, who miss the great Thomas Müller in the squad.
Thus, Müller can now be honored in a dignified manner, receive an official farewell or even a farewell match. The 34-year-old has played 131 international matches, only record holders Lothar Matthäus and Miroslav Klose have more. His 45 goals for the DFB team have also been surpassed by only a few. As World Cup winner of 2014, he is unforgettable. More than 14 years ago, Müller made his debut, he played in eight tournaments. It is a great career - which deserves recognition. But for that, it takes the hard decision to know when the end has come.
Despite his departure, the German Football National Team under coach Julian Nagelsmann has shown that they can thrive without Thomas Müller's presence on the field. New talents like Havertz, Musiala, and others have stepped up to fill his role effectively.
Müller's retirement has also presented an opportunity for Nagelsmann to drive the rebuilding of the DFB team, free from the public's expectations about his inclusion in the squad.
