The German national football team is heading to the World Cup next year. Despite a convincing performance in the World Cup qualifying match against Slovakia, head coach Julian Nagelsmann faces some difficulties. It will be very interesting for you to place bets on the World Cup next year on 22Bet.
“Today, there is nothing to complain about. I’m proud of how the team fought against adversity,” said head coach Julian Nagelsmann, clearly showing relief and joy. Just in time for the decisive qualifying match against Slovakia, his team delivered a brilliant performance, providing a reconciliatory conclusion. “We had a bumpy start to the qualifiers, but today there was pressure on the kettle. Everyone played extremely well and worked like a pink animal.”
The DFB team dominated from the start and gave the opponent no chances. Nick Woltemade (18th minute), Serge Gnabry (29th), and Leroy Sané with a brace (36th/41st) ensured a clear lead before halftime. Two more goals from Ridle Baku (67th) and debutant Assan Ouedraogo (79th) brought the final score to 6-0 (4-0). Germany will thus participate in the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico in 2026.
Nagelsmann: “A Break in Perception”
However, despite the gala performance in front of 40,100 enthusiastic spectators in Leipzig, the decision-makers shouldn’t only look forward with positive feelings. Some problems remain that have become evident in recent months.
The DFB team continues to struggle with significant performance fluctuations – and there aren’t many test matches left before the World Cup to gain the needed consistency. So far, two home games against Ivory Coast (March 30 in Stuttgart) and against Finland (May 31 in Mainz) are scheduled. Additionally, a test against Switzerland in Basel is planned, along with another test match against an unnamed opponent. The final rehearsal for the World Cup will be a match against the host USA.
With only two matches left before the squad nomination, which is set to take place between May 25 and 31, Nagelsmann must decide who will go to the World Cup.
The disappointing performances at the Final Four this summer, where the DFB team lost to France and Portugal, were followed by an equally poor first leg against Slovakia in the World Cup qualifiers. Especially at the Final Four, a “break occurred,” analyzed the head coach. “Before that, we were perceived much more positively, and I believe we also saw ourselves more positively.”
Small Steps in the Right Direction
In a television interview after the match, Nagelsmann added, referring to the increasing criticism of his team’s recent performances: “We hope the questions will be less critical when we deliver good performances. However, as long as we have appearances that repeatedly provide grounds for criticism, criticism will occur.”
Nagelsmann noted that developmental steps are continuing in the right direction, but he also admitted that recently there haven’t been any “quantum leaps,” only “small steps in the right direction.”
Explanations for the less impressive performances recently are, in part, obvious. In almost all areas of the team, Nagelsmann has had to deal with significant absentees in recent months.
Offensive players Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz are out with serious injuries, while goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen and Antonio Rüdiger are currently unavailable in defense. Nico Schlotterbeck has just returned to the team after a long injury and showed against Slovakia with a good performance how important he can be for the DFB team.
There are many issues for the head coach, who has also raised eyebrows with his selections. Recently, the 38-year-old called up rising stars Said El Mala from 1. FC Köln and Leipzig’s Ouedraogo. Both players have shown good performances in their clubs in recent weeks, but they have yet to prove they can do so consistently over several months.
In contrast, Stuttgart national players Angelo Stiller and Maximilian Mittelstädt—who are currently performing well—were left at home.