National soccer team: Limited compromises: Nagelsmann now wants first place

Wrapped snugly in his black training jacket, Julian Nagelmann took a lot of time to chat with a boy in a wheelchair. The national coach also stopped by the goalkeeper training with the seriously ill child in order to fulfill a heartfelt wish. Only then did Nagelsmann take an intensive look at his players. Who is fit and who might need a little break in the strenuous football autumn? That’s what the final training session was all about, which the injured regular goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen also watched with interest as a star guest.

The DFB head coach had promised the club coaches from Munich to Dortmund a thorough examination. When the ball rolls against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday (8.45 p.m./RTL) in Freiburg, Nagelsmann’s willingness to compromise for his Bundesliga colleagues will be over again. Whoever stands on the lawn has to deliver.

Only that corresponds to the ambition of the national coach, who once admitted that he couldn’t even lose to his son in a board game. For Nagelsmann, it’s not just about this one last home game in the European Championship year. The positive mood among the national football team should be taken with us.

Group victory for self-image

Wins in a row bring the self-image that makes you suitable for a title. This is how the 37-year-old put it using the examples of Spain (European champions) and Argentina (world champions). A win against Bosnia-Herzegovina with top strikers Edin Dzeko and Ermedin Demirovic, who are well known in the Bundesliga, guarantees first place after the preliminary round of the Nations League. “We want to win the group after reaching the quarter-finals early,” said Nagelsmann and added: “If possible in Freiburg.”

The end of the year in Breisgau and three days later in Budapest against Hungary is a milestone for the national coach. The two-stage plan envisages: Nations League final in 2025, World Cup triumph in 2026. “Getting into the Final Four for the first time is an important interim goal for us next year on the way to the World Cup,” said Nagelsmann. In 2025 there will no longer be any concessions to club coaches.

The staff follows the national coach, grateful for the clarity with which he ended the constant sadness after the World Cup disaster in Qatar and the subsequent final phase under Hansi Flick as national coach. “Everyone knows what they have to do,” said Joshua Kimmich, formulating a simple-sounding concept. The captain represents the desire for the title like no other. “We want to compete with the biggest. We want to win every competition we take part in.”

It is thanks to Nagelsmann that this no longer sounds absurd. Nine wins, three draws and only one defeat in the European Championship quarter-finals against Spain are an impressive annual result. The fans are happy again. Of course, the Europa Park Stadium is sold out with almost 28,000 spectators for the DFB competitive game premiere in Freiburg.

In the Nations League, which is now considered important, the starting position is so comfortable that winning the group would be perfect even with a defeat against the so far winless bottom team Bosnia-Herzegovina if the Netherlands and Hungary played a draw at the same time. Taking such eventualities into account is of course out of the question for Nagelsmann.

Despite all assurances, he will of course find the best possible starting eleven formation. Jamal Musiala is fit again after the October break and is at his best. Whether his congenial partner Florian Wirtz would be there seemed rather questionable after an infection and a break from training. Kai Havertz is also set offensively.

Candidates have to prove themselves. This applies to Tim Kleindienst as a striker or Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sané or Chris Führich, who are more interested in speed and technique. Deniz Undav, double goalscorer in the 2-1 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Zenica five weeks ago, is out because of his thigh strain.

A decision has been made for the goal. Oliver Baumann can demonstrate his skills as a placeholder for ter Stegen for a second time in his old hometown of Freiburg. Alexander Nübel should normally play again on Tuesday (8.45 p.m./ZDF) in Budapest against Hungary. As a training visitor, Ter Stegen was able to relax and chat with the team doctors. Nobody is shaking his status yet.

The running gag described by Nagelsmann that criteria such as birthday or origin are decisive for the lineup cannot be fulfilled, in the case of Nico Schlotterbeck. The central defender is missing from his former Freiburg place of work and is suspended. In addition to Wirtz, Kimmich, Jonathan Tah and Antonio Rüdiger also go into the Bosnia game with a warning. Another yellow card and the 2024 international match year would be over for the regulars. Nagelsmann would have to make compromises again for the Hungary game. As group winners these would be easy.