Conclusion after the DFB trip to the USA
Nagelsmann no longer needs all the Bayern stars
October 18, 2023, 6:42 a.m
After two games under national coach Julian Nagelsmann, the mood around the DFB team is remarkably positive. The controversial trip to the USA can be considered a success with one win and one draw. As always after a coaching change, there are winners and losers. A short conclusion.
How often have you read that Thomas Müller’s time is coming to an end. So many times that you can no longer count it. And don’t want to write anymore. That’s why things will continue after the trip to the USA for FC Bayern’s fun boy. But in what role? He himself, he has emphasized this emphatically these days, will never resign from the DFB team. You don’t do that. And national coach Julian Nagelsmann, who didn’t always know what to do with Müller during their time together in Munich, will continue to call him up for the national team. There are good reasons for that.
On the one hand, he avoids a conflict that many coaches have stumbled over: namely, simply ignoring Müller. And with the offensive free spirit he has a mood maker on hand who still knows how to shine in special moments. They are just becoming fewer. Against Mexico, 2-2 in a wild duel, he was allowed to start from the start, but he couldn’t find any connection to the game. Only once did he appear dangerous, even scoring, but he was offside. It was logical that his working day ended after 45 minutes. He was replaced by Niclas Füllkrug. The new, clear number one in the German storm. It took Füllkrug six minutes to score his ninth DFB goal in just the eleventh game.
The real nine
This is quite a remarkable development that the national coach has also undergone. In his club career so far, he was not necessarily considered a champion of a classic striker. In Munich he came to terms with Robert Lewandowski, but neither side was really happy with the collaboration. For a nation like Germany, which currently does not have a world-class nine, Nagelsmann seemed tailor-made for creative solutions. With Jamal Musiala, with Leroy Sané, with Florian Wirtz. And somehow also with Müller. But then the new man surprised by naming two penalty area giants. In addition to Füllkrug, Unioner Kevin Behrens also made it into the squad.
And the hierarchy at the front is clear: Füllkrug is number one. He always scores too. Once against the USA and once tonight. The fact that he was only a part-time worker in the spectacular duel with Mexico was also due to the fact that his hometown club Borussia Dortmund had to play again on Friday evening, and the 30-year-old deserved a little rest. He can still fly home as one of the winners of the trip to the USA. In a private jet. This is how BVB organized it for its players.
The thing with Niklas Süle
The controversial trip overseas in the middle of the season not only brought a little more anticipation for the European Championships, but also more winners. Mats Hummels, for example, should be one of them. In the first test against the USA he was the head of defense again. Not a glorious comeback, but very solid. Gave the team support, despite well-known tempo problems. He was also rested against Mexico, which may have played into his hands. Because the defense didn’t look good a few times. On the right side, Niklas Süle dropped significantly and Antonio Rüdiger also had more problems with the toxic and lively Mexicans. Only Jonathan Tah did his job very confidently, but he may still be behind in the hierarchy.
“With Niklas, I took that into account and made it conscious. We can’t do without him because he is one of the best players in the position in the Bundesliga,” said Nagelsmann about the central defender Süle, who will already be in the right-back position at the 2022 World Cup had problems. “He played 27 minutes in the last four league games and there’s a lack of rhythm, no blame on him. But then he gets the rhythm with us. Overall, I don’t see a problem anywhere. We have to find couples who fit well together “We still have a few steps to go, including defending all over the pitch, not just in the chain.”
Pascal Groß was good again. After two small wobbles in the Germans’ collectively nervous initial phase, the 32-year-old was very present. Was always playable and looked for simple solutions. Acted without any frills, a good, clever six. And a fitting match for İlkay Gündoğan, for whom the national coach’s trust was so good that he played his second very good international match in a row. This has rarely happened so far. Also strange for a player who was the brains of Manchester City’s super machine last season. New tasks are (need to be) sought for Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich. Kimmich, who missed all the games after Hansi Flick was eliminated, could move to the right side of defense.
Things are getting tight for Kai Havertz
With his trust in Groß, Nagelsmann also dispels fears that old Bayern braids are still growing. Only Leroy Sané and Jamal Musiala, who are absolutely indispensable because of their form and quality, can be sure of their place, i.e. a regular place. Florian Wirtz, the highly gifted man from Bayer Leverkusen, is crawling ever closer to them. What was true for Gündoğan was also true for him, even though he was there for much less time. But there was still no suitable task or personnel constellation. With Musiala and Sané she seems to have found her. Wirtz can hardly be separated from the ball, even against the robust Mexicans he was almost always in control of the situation, moved cleverly and always had a good idea.
This in turn attacks the domains of Kai Havertz and Serge Gnabry. Both have been set in recent years; trust and performance did not always go together. Especially with Havertz, who was considered the only German world-class player two years ago. However, he was often used in the role of central striker. Not his best position.
Nagelsmann has shaken up the DFB team after years of frustration under the late Joachim Löw and Hansi Flick (apart from small highs), more or less ended the period of experiments and is relying on a clear axis. This team is “extremely willing,” praised the national coach, and he switched to superlatives: “He has never coached a team that implements things so quickly, I’m absolutely thrilled.” As a result, he told the team “that I have great confidence that we will be successful.” He definitely wants to stay in touch with his players until the next international match window. “Then,” he promised, the fans will “see a further improved team” against Turkey and Austria.