Julian Nagelsmann does not want to exaggerate the importance of football in view of the political turbulence. The national coach still wants to ensure a slightly better atmosphere. As far as youngster Paul Wanner’s open decision is concerned, Nagelsmann is relaxed.
After all, the rain had stopped when Julian Nagelsmann asked for training. He did this in Frankfurt/Main on the DFB campus – and not in Herzogenaurach, where the national coach had lived with the German national team during the European Championships. Because of the feel-good factor, the entourage went there twice more after the tournament. So now Frankfurt again.
The coach was in a good mood when he sat down in the media room an hour before training began. Clear in what he said. Focused.
Almost a year ago, Nagelsmann also trained with the players on campus. In preparation for two test matches, which the national team then lost. 2:3 in Berlin against Turkey, 0:2 in Vienna against Austria. The players sat in the dressing room “like beaten dogs,” Nagelsmann later recalled. He himself was “devastated”.
But – and that’s where you quickly get to what has changed under Nagelsmann since then compared to the games on November 18th and 21st, 2023: The coach also recognized the positive in the crisis back then. And only in this way, he emphasized again in an interview with BR just a few days ago, was he able to take drastic measures before the European Championships. The coach not only proclaimed the performance principle, he relied on it – and within just a few months managed to give the team not only a playing identity, but also a new self-image. One that includes wanting to dominate top teams even without the best players.
Argentina and Spain as role models
“In general, I want us to get on the bus, go to the game and everyone has the self-image: of course we will win today, we are Germany, we are a football nation, we will win. And it’s all about consistency,” he said recently – citing the 2-1 win in Bosnia-Herzegovina in October as an example.
The German team will play against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Nations League on Saturday in Freiburg (8.45 p.m./RTL), and three days later in Budapest against Hungary (8.45 p.m./ZDF). These are the last two international matches this year. The DFB team made it into the quarter-finals of the Nations League and now they want to win the group. This means that a supposedly easier opponent will be waiting for Nagelsmann’s team in the first knockout round of the UEFA competition in March.
Win games, win titles. Nagelsmann wants to further internalize this self-image of the role models of Argentina as world champions and Spain as Nations League winners and European champions. The national coach has a lot planned. He has visions, goals, wishes.
Last weekend, Nagelsmann answered “yes” at an event in Munich, where he acted as a sponsor for a total of 22 women and men who were particularly committed to Bavarian clubs and was asked whether he wanted to try to distract a bit with two good games the political trouble that would prevail in this country. When asked by WELT, Nagelsmann replied that they had two important games coming up “that affect football in our country. And of course we also like to try to create a positive atmosphere with football – in moments that may not always be easy on a political level.”
Perhaps, the national coach continued, it would also be possible to “put a smile on the faces of one or two politicians with two good 90 minutes who haven’t had that much to laugh about recently. But I don’t want to make football so big now, that means we are the ones who enchant the country – in phases where there are more important issues.”
A new spirit, a new sense of unity
Nagelsmann announced that some players were injured. They still arrived – and that’s exactly what he said when he was asked what had changed most fundamentally compared to the games against Turkey and Austria last November. “Some players are injured, but everyone is still there. A year ago, I think some people might have called and said: I can’t come.”
Words that have a lot of meaning in relation to the climate within the German team. Something new emerged under Nagelsmann. A new spirit, a new sense of unity. The players chosen by Nagelsmann and his team want to travel to the national team – a national team that is now again very well received by the public.
As important as the upcoming two games are, Nagelsmann makes no secret of the fact that he is already thinking about how the year 2025 should be structured – also with a view to the 2026 World Cup. For the tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada Qualification begins in the middle of next year. “If we just play the same game until the 2026 World Cup, we are too easy to predict. We will try to bring new things into our game. It won’t always be the same,” said the national coach. Of course, we will practice certain game situations and also work individually with the players if time allows. The latter, said Nagelsmann, would be done in close consultation with the club coaches with whom he had spoken about it.
Nagelsmann continues to hope for Wanner’s talent
As far as the upcoming two international matches are concerned, Julian Nagelsmann is hoping for a good end to the year. He also told the team this. Knowing full well that there is a fine line between the ambitions you have and the requirement to do justice to the clubs at the same time. He related the latter to his responsibility as national coach to control the load accordingly.
The coach also appeared relaxed when he was asked about Paul Wanner. The 18-year-old offensive player recently turned down Nagelsmann’s invitation to the international matches. Wanner, who is on loan from FC Bayern to 1. FC Heidenheim, still has to decide whether he wants to play for Germany or Austria in the future. Both associations are interested. “I didn’t think the cancellation was dramatic, it’s very heated,” said Nagelsmann and emphasized: “The statement he made is very mature, very good for 18 years, that he simply doesn’t see himself at that level yet. “
Wanner is currently playing for the German U21 team. For Nagelsmann it is important that a player does it with full conviction that he is proud to play for his nation. Wanner was born in Austria and grew up mostly in Germany. He also played for the German Football Association in the U17, U18 and U20 teams. His mother is Austrian, his father is German. The offensive player had repeatedly said that he did not want to rush into anything with his national team future and would ideally like to play in the Bundesliga for a year.
“We do have the fantasy that he can also play a role for us in a World Cup squad if development continues well,” added Nagelsmann, who is in good spirits: “He hasn’t said: ‘You’re a Completely blind and I don’t feel like training under you’. But he has a good reason and then it’s okay for me too.”
