Vogts sees a much better solution
Ex-national coach calls for immediate Nagelsmann demotion
November 29, 2023, 9:48 a.m
The defeats against Turkey and Austria increase doubts that the German national soccer team will perform successfully at the home European Championships next summer. Former national coach Berti Vogts is therefore calling for drastic measures. Julian Nagelsmann is receiving encouragement from other quarters.
Former national coach Berti Vogts suggests a change in the coaching bench of the national soccer team in order to ensure a successful home European Championship. “The team leader has to be Rudi Völler – and Julian Nagelsmann has to be his assistant coach. For me that is the be-all and end-all if we want to play a successful European Championship,” said the 76-year-old to “Sport Bild”.
Vogts, who led the selection of the German Football Association to the European Championship triumph in 1996, explained: “We played our best international game in years in the 2-1 win against France last September under Rudi. He not only has a lot of knowledge, he Above all, he has a lot of experience – which Nagelsmann doesn’t have due to his age.”
Dietmar Hamann even goes one step further in his criticism: The 59-time national player already sees the commitment of national coach Julian Nagelsmann as a mistake. “As of today, if you look at it against Turkey and Austria, yes,” said the Sky expert in view of the DFB team’s two most recent defeats.
“He wouldn’t have been my choice,” added Hamann, “and if you look at the last two games, I have concerns.” However, the German national team and the national coach “will not be judged by what happened against Austria, but by what happens next summer,” he said with a view to the home European Championships. The 50-year-old said the situation already reminded him of that in the final phase of Hansi Flick’s term in office. Will the German Football Association pull the ripcord again? “The DFB will do a damn thing to do that, but of course the discussion must be allowed,” said Hamann.
Hoffenheim companion thinks “pity” is inappropriate
Andreas Möller, who was European champion under Vogts at the time, does not want to overestimate the defeats against Turkey and Austria. “We are better than we look at the moment,” said the 56-year-old: “There won’t be a mentality problem at the home European Championships, everyone is on fire.”
Alexander Rosen, under whom Nagelsmann became the youngest head coach in Bundesliga history at TSG Hoffenheim at the beginning of 2016, also sees no reason for unrest. “Nobody has to worry about them falling into a state of shock,” said the manager of “Sport Bild”: “Julian is characterized by the fact that, after a short moment of distance, he can analyze the situation at full speed and work out solutions.”
He knows ex-coach Nagelsmann well from his Hoffenheim days and knows “that he can handle the pressure,” said Rosen. He was initially “consternated” after the Austria game because he had not expected “such a performance”. But the game also “provided a lot of insights,” and this is exactly what “in my opinion offers great opportunities.” After the harsh criticism of Nagelsmann, he felt no pity for his former companion. “That would be completely inappropriate. Neither Julian nor his team need pity,” said Rosen: “If anything, then they need full support.”