WM qualification-DFB team: Julian Nagelsmann counters his own revolution

He could have saved himself all that Julian Nagelsmann thought about in Bratislava late Thursday evening. The incomprehensible thing about it is: the national coach actually knows better – and has already proven it in an impressive way. Now he lets him say an unacceptable appearance of his DFB team in every respect that everything was “dark”. In fact, the 0: 2 against Slovakia reminded of the dark days of the German national team under Joachim Löw and Hansi Flick.

Structure and system

The first game of the new international season should also be the first step towards the World Cup title. With a new structure and changed system, defensive security and playful dominance should complete the way back to the world tip, which Nagelsmann undoubtedly stated hopefully. But after 90 minutes against the 52nd of the world rankings, fear is great, alone The qualification for the World Cup to miss the coming year. Everything was missing against Slovakia: Without any playful solutions, the DFB-Elf failed to put pressure on the opponent and to develop more than just two mandatory scoring opportunities. The defensive, on the other hand, was so shaky that the Slovak team has to put up with the accusation of lack of opportunities. The wages deserved for their work were the goals of David Hancko and David Strelec, three minutes before and ten minutes after the break whistle.

The national coach released the bankruptcy declaration of his system change at the beginning of the second half: Because the 21-year-old right-back Namdi Collins was overwhelmed with his DFB debut, Maximilian Mittelstädt suddenly in this position in the chain of four-a left foot that only needs the right to fall. The 28-year-old gave the best after his change of sides, but apparently remained an emergency solution. Later Nagelsmann invited everyone to “offer himself with good performance” for this position. That sounded very desperate.

Logical solution

Joshua Kimmich is not the only alternative among footballers with a German passport, but as one of the world’s best right -back, the most logical solution in this position. Incidentally, Nagelsmann also saw this in March 2024 when he was a small revolution with his at the time, with which he in retrospect he was able to successfully combat the years of lethargy under Löw and Flick. In addition to the transfer of Kimmich from the midfield center onto the right defense side, the non -planning of some established players was one of the decisive and ultimately profitable measure. This also included Leon Goretzka. And even today, Nagelsmann’s former words count: »There is no better right -back than Joshua Kimmich in Germany. And in general we have much less problems on the six. «

The full-back, whether in a defensive chain of three or five, have gained importance in view of the focus on the offensive on fast wing players. For this reason alone, Kimmich’s renewed transfer is questionable. After the game against Slovakia, the captain criticized the “missing pace” in German game. He is right – and is also responsible for it himself. In the game structure, Kimmich always dropped between the two central defenders Antonio Rüdiger and Jonathan Tah, then played a safety pass to the left, the other to the right, but was missing in the midfield center to really influence the game.

Failure with midfield duo

At that time, Nagelsmann also had good reasons to throw Goretzka out of the squad. As a midfield duo, he and Kimmich were one of the faces of the ongoing German failure, and they were often criticized at Bayern. On Thursday evening they were reunited in the DFB team-and the sluggish, free midfielder. For a year it was forgotten for Nagelsmann Goretzka to play in the national jersey again in March 2025, because of his risk of scoring, the national coach justified. Yes, the 30-year-old also had the best German chance in Bratislava, but gave it. Are 15 goals in eleven years of national team really an argument? No. And certainly not when the entire game suffers.

If Nick Woltemade, Florian Wirtz and Serge Gnabry are three attackers on the square, it does not need a Goretzka that runs wildly into all offensive rooms, but in no way enriches the important midfielder. Against Slovakia, the crucial, scoring dangers were missing. But who should play it when Goretzka can be found on the defensive somewhere in the penalty area and Kimmich? This is exactly what leads to the problem that Nagelsmann actually wanted to fix: security and stability in the center. He had missed this against global classes such as Portugal and France in the Nations League. In Bratislava, against a good Slovak team, but limited in their means, they were completely lost.

Acute measures

Because the national coach also lacked “the emotions” on Thursday evening, he consequently thought about relying on “less quality” in the team -related sense. Yes Julian, if you want to call him, do it as in spring 2024, be brave. At that time he took no consideration of big names, but put together “a group”, as he often formulated, who ultimately played with the later European champion Spain in the quarter -finals of the European Championship. A right -back Kimmich would offer itself as an acute measure, and midfielder in the current squad such as Robert Andrich, Pascal Groß or Paul Nebel could also improve in Cologne on Sunday. A victory in the qualification against Northern Ireland should be if you want to become world champion.