Immediately after Julian Nagelsmann announced the German squad for the 2026 World Cup, controversy erupted regarding his selection and use of personnel. For example, the recall of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer while Oliver Baumann maintained consistent form; the inclusion of Leroy Sané despite unconvincing performances; the lack of depth in the right-back position; and a midfield considered rather thin…
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| Julian Nagelsmann is too stubborn about his own decisions. |
In reality, Julian Nagelsmann is a coach with a strong personality, always defending his views and willing to pursue the choices he believes are right. In other words, he is very steadfast, even somewhat stubborn, in his decisions. However, that stubbornness is still accepted when it yields results. Leading the German national team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup , along with a resounding 7-1 victory against Curacao in their opening match, further reinforces the belief that Nagelsmann's choices are correct.
However, the limitations in Nagelsmann's decisions began to show in the second match against Ivory Coast. The decision to deploy Joshua Kimmich at right-back, the use of wingers with less impressive physique and strength such as Florian Wirtz , Jamal Musiala, and Leroy Sané, and especially the continued reliance on Leroy Sané, along with the central midfield pairing of Aleksandar Pavlović and Felix Nmecha, caused Germany considerable difficulty against an opponent possessing superior speed, stamina, and tackling ability.
If the signs of instability in the victory against Ivory Coast weren't enough to sound the alarm, then the defeat against Ecuador – a team with a similar playing style – clearly exposed the weaknesses of the German national team. Although they still qualified for the knockout round, what fans are waiting for is Nagelsmann to make timely adjustments to overcome the limitations that have been revealed.
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| The German national team had a forgettable 2026 World Cup despite having many talented players in their squad who were at their peak. |
However, Julian Nagelsmann remained steadfast in his tactical choices, with Joshua Kimmich at right-back, Leroy Sané continuing to be used despite not making much of an impact, and with a lineup lacking breakthrough attacking options in the midfield, forcing the German team to rely on crosses and aerial duels when things stalled. In that context, Paraguay's ability to withstand Germany's attack is understandable, as they had somewhat anticipated their opponent's approach.
Nagelsmann could argue that if Jonathan Tah's header had gone in, the game would have unfolded differently. However, the question is whether the German team is overly reliant on aerial balls. Without diverse attacking options, being dragged to a risky penalty shootout by Paraguay was an unavoidable consequence.
The reality is that the German national team experienced a 2026 World Cup marked by significant tactical instability, leading to psychological instability when entering penalty shootouts. The image of a team forced to utilize its best aerial players in the final moments further reflects the deadlock in Nagelsmann's approach.
When failure stems not from a lack of quality personnel but from the coach's tactical choices, especially his conservative approach to adjustments, the responsibility undoubtedly lies with the head of the coaching staff. For Julian Nagelsmann, whether he resigns or awaits a change from the federation, his reputation will inevitably be significantly damaged.
CAO DUY
Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/the-thao/the-thao-quoc-te/202606/co-chap-0043702/
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