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Julian Nagelsmann faces a wave of criticism following a series of controversial personnel decisions for the 2026 World Cup . |
Germany 's failure at the 2026 World Cup continues to have repercussions. According to Bild , Julian Nagelsmann not only failed professionally but also lost the trust of a portion of the dressing room due to a series of inconsistent decisions.
One of the controversial issues was Nagelsmann's use of Deniz Undav. The striker scored crucial goals that helped Germany reach the knockout stage, but only started in the final match. More significantly, the decision not to use Undav from the start was not communicated directly to the entire team. The players only learned of this information through the press conference.
Nagelsmann's personnel management also came under scrutiny. Initially, the message was that only regular starters would have a chance at the World Cup. However, Leon Goretzka was still considered almost a guaranteed spot despite no longer holding a default role. The case of Nmecha was also puzzling, as he was initially considered to have no chance, but was ultimately still used.
Oliver Baumann's story further fueled criticism of the German national team coach. The goalkeeper, who had started in the qualifying rounds, reportedly believed he was the first-choice goalkeeper until just before the tournament. However, instead of being informed directly by Nagelsmann, Baumann learned the truth through a television interview.
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Germany's failure lies not only in the result, but also in the instability behind the scenes. |
On the pitch, Nagelsmann's decisions were also unconvincing. Despite repeatedly emphasizing the importance of teamwork, he disrupted the team's structure in the match against Ecuador by bringing on four untested substitutes simultaneously from the 60th minute. Woltemade, a striker who impressed during the pre-season, only played a total of 32 minutes at the World Cup.
Another controversial decision was moving Joshua Kimmich to right-back, after a season in which he excelled as a number 6 midfielder at Bayern. Germany lacked a proper backup option for this position, forcing Anton to take on a role that wasn't really suited to him.
The team's living environment didn't improve the situation either. The German team's headquarters in Winston-Salem was described as dull and isolated. Many players reportedly missed the vibrant atmosphere in Chicago, where the team used to be based in a hotel in the city center.
But the most serious problem remains communication. Some players reportedly waited months for contact from Nagelsmann but received no response. During training camp, the German national team coach was also criticized for having little interaction with his players, spending most of his time with the coaching staff and his family.
The rigidity, lack of transparency, and convoluted personnel decisions severely damaged Nagelsmann's image after the World Cup. For the German national team, this failure was not just about the results on the field, but also about how the team was led behind the scenes.
After a disappointing tournament, the biggest question now is whether the DFB will continue to place its trust in Nagelsmann or whether it will be forced to act to usher in a new era.
Source: https://znews.vn/nagelsmann-tu-lam-loan-tuyen-duc-post1665293.html































































