2023-09-22 16:19:35
Clearly, Julian Nagelsmann is following in the footsteps of Hans-Dieter Flick. The very young German technician (36 years old), who had already succeeded the fallen coach on the Bayern Munich bench in July 2021, agreed this Friday to tackle the biggest challenge of his very young career: rebuilding Germany a team feared for Euro-2024 at home, which will kick off in less than nine months at the Allianz Arena.
A stadium that Nagelsmann knows by heart, therefore, since he was the coach of Bayern for around twenty months before being dismissed to everyone’s surprise on March 24, 2023. Nagelsmann was also still under contract since then with the Bavarian club, until his appointment as head of the selection. As of Tuesday, the German daily Bild announced an agreement between the German Federation (DFB) and the Bavarian technician.
And ironically, he could make his first outing in the costume of “Bundestrainer” on Saturday afternoon at the Allianz Arena, to supervise Bayern’s internationals. Because for Nagelsmann’s highly perilous mission, namely to save Euro-2024 at home, every day now counts to straighten out a German selection in dire straits.
She remains on premature exits at the 2018 World Cup (1st round), Euro 2021 (round of 16) and the 2022 World Cup (1st round) and has only won five of her last eighteen matches (against Italy, Oman, Costa Rica, Peru and France), a sign of a gradual downgrading of the 2014 world champions on the football planet.
After the elimination in Qatar, Germany suffered a series of defeats against Belgium (3-2, the first since 1954), in Poland (1-0), against Colombia (2-0). The humiliation against Japan (4-1) on September 10 was one setback too many and Hansi Flick was dismissed the next day, a first in the history of the German Federation, all in the middle of a rally. It was the sports director of the Federation Rudi Völler who took charge against France (2-1 victory).
“Inspire the nation”
“We didn’t need to convince me too much,” declared the new strong man of German football, once expected to join PSG this summer. The goal of playing a good European Championship at home is very exciting for me. This is a huge challenge facing us as a team. During a big tournament at home, there is a nation behind us and we want to inspire the nation with beautiful football (…) A Sommermärchen 2.0 (fairy tale which refers to the 2006 World Cup in Germany, with immense enthusiasm around the German selection which rose to 3rd place), this would be the ideal scenario. Let everyone put their cell phones aside when there is a Mannschaft match. We will do everything to ensure that this happens again. »
The first list of Nagelsmann, revealed on the bench of RB Leipzig from 2019, for the October gathering and the American tour (friendlies against the United States on October 14 and Mexico on the 17th) will be carefully scrutinized.
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