When even Thomas Müller can no longer save the day
What is the deal with Thomas Müller in the German National Team? The hint points towards the end of DFB. But before that, the old Bayern star experiences a wild EURO quarter-final and argues about the end. Müller - the Ur-Bayer, World Champion, and even European Champion in his old days? Thanks to his genius moment against the big Spaniards. Because he re-injected the pill one more time. Rein-Müller, indeed.
However, the story remains a bitter "what if." Müller did not rein it in, and the German National Team exits the tournament in a dramatic way - and the long DFB career of the number 13 could soon be over. Not just temporarily, as he was not nominated by Joachim Löw and then also by Hansi Flick for a while.
It's the 94th minute, added time of the regular playing time, in the EURO quarter-final in Stuttgart against Spain. Only five hundred seconds before that, Florian Wirtz scored the equalizer for Germany and the team and its fans were on the brink of exhaustion. Then, Thomas Müller, who came on in the 80th minute, enters the scene and almost decides the game in favor of the DFB team.
Müller misses out
Just before referee Anthony Taylor blows for extra time, Joshua Kimmich sends in a desperate cross from his right wing - and finds Thomas Müller in the six-yard box. Müller manages to steal past Aymeric Laporte in his unique way, heads the ball towards the goal, but misses it by just centimeters to the left of the target. It might have been offside, but the great Müller moment still remains denied.
The Bayern star, brought into the DFB team by Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann as a "lubricant," as a mediator between young and old, engages in every fight, chases after every ball with his unorthodox steps. Sometimes he looks like he's in his best days, as he scored five goals for Germany at the 2014 World Cup to secure the title. When he sets up Wirtz in the 105th minute with a beautiful pass from the left, the Leverkusen player misses the lead by just centimeters.
However, Müller is often overrun by the opponent and fails to reach the ball in time. "You can see what he still has, if he could still run," Thomas Hitzlsperger says in the ARD and means it as a compliment.
"It felt in extra time like we were closer to the punch," Müller says after the game in the catacombs. "I would have given us a good chance in a penalty shootout." Unfortunately, the DFB team, due to the last-minute shock from the Spaniards in the 119th minute, did not make it that far.
DFB-End? Müller and Nagelsmann talk
After the game, Müller and Nagelsmann exchange words in the tunnel. "Thomas, you're still a class act," Nagelsmann says. "I'm glad you're back in the team. You showed today what you're capable of."
Müller nods, a small smile playing on his lips. "I'm just happy to be here and contribute in any way I can," he says. "I know my time is limited, but as long as I have the opportunity, I'll give it my all."
Nagelsmann pats Müller on the shoulder. "We'll make the most of it, don't worry," he assures him. "And who knows, maybe we'll even make it to the final."
Müller chuckles. "Stranger things have happened," he says. "Let's go celebrate with the team and see what the future holds."
But Müller then turns to the topic that everyone, now 34 years old, has been wanting to address. "Realistically, it could be that today was my last game for the national team," he says. Perhaps it will be this coming Saturday, otherwise in the coming days, Müller wants to exchange words with Nagelsmann and then "see how it goes." However, he makes it clear again: "The topic of retirement will not come from my side." It could be that together with the national coach, the realization may come that it is enough.
Nagelsmann makes similar hints after the game: "We have a squad that is not extremely young, and a few older players are involved. We will take some time to think about what is right." We will "certainly make some changes." In any case, Müller moves through his joker appearance in the German national team record with his 131st appearance past Lukas Podolski and is now the sole third in the ranking.
Therefore, he may retire soon: the eternal Thomas Müller. A DFB favorite who, over many years, has helped the German national team to great successes with his goals and commitment. However, it did not work against Spain to put the ball back in the net once again.
In the discussion about the German National Team's future, Julian Nagelsmann commends Thomas Müller for his performance, praising his resilience and impact as a "lubricant" between young and old players. Müller, looking towards the European Football Championship 2024, expresses his desire to continue contributing to the team, although he acknowledges that his time may be limited.
