This article provides an analysis of recent events, including the perspectives of Stefan Rommel, as well as potential assessments from other experts. Stay informed about the different types of journalistic writing.
It is true that ranked 74th in the FIFA world rankings – a perilous position just above Bahrain and Honduras, but below Cape Verde – this position perhaps does not truly reflect the strength of the German national team . However, the dominance, joy of play and ease displayed by the Germans in their final home match of the year against Bosnia and Herzegovina was nothing short of a revelation.
It’s been a long time since German fans appreciated their national team as much as they have in recent months. The resounding 7-0 victory was a temporary peak in a transformation unfolding at an almost breakneck pace.
Since he took office almost a year ago, the national team, once completely dejected, has been seeking new horizons under his leadership. “No future” could have accurately described their previous state. While the situation may not have been as desperate, the team’s options seemed severely limited and a coherent game plan almost imperceptible.
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Currently, some positions within the national squad are not yet optimal, with the question of who will be the starting goalkeeper remaining unanswered, and the player selection does not yet appear to feature world-class talent. However, these uncertainties are less significant at present, as the collective on the pitch and the tactical acumen of the coach create a basis not seen since Germany won the World Cup ten years ago.
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Nagelsmann has demanded and cultivated a new spirit within the team from the start, and unlike many of his predecessors, he has now reached the stage where he no longer needs to demand the right attitude and enthusiasm to the national team of its players.
The match against the hapless Bosnians provided further evidence of this transformation during the calendar year. With 16-4 shots on goal, 72% possession and an xGoal value of 4.77, the team’s superiority was evident beyond just the statistics of a standard Nations League match. It is a competition which, in the past, has often been approached with reluctance but which now represents both a trophy opportunity and a platform for established and emerging talent.
Before the match, qualification for the knockout stage was already a given, and in previous years this might have sent a signal to some players to slow down the pace, seeing the national team’s trip as a welcome break from the pressures of club football. This has also fundamentally changed since Nagelsmann took the reins.
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A year ago, a lackluster German team left the winter break after two defeats against Turkey and Austria filled with gloom. Now the national team is rekindling the excitement on almost all fronts.
“It was fun,” said the player who scored the first goal for Germany just 79 seconds after kick-off, speaking to RTL. “What we were aiming for, we executed it. We were able to play freely, but we always worked hard defensively.”
This is also a great takeaway: the team shows spirit and enthusiasm not only with the ball but also under pressure. The German team allows on average less than five passes before executing a defensive action, with counter-pressing being the heart of their dominance.
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“It was almost perfect; we put in an incredibly hungry performance, both offensively and defensively. The counter-pressing was particularly impressive today. It was extraordinarily well done,” Nagelsmann praised on RTL. “Even after the substitutions, there was no drop in intensity. It was a very good match!” Indeed, the national coach has several options in attack without sacrificing quality.
Among the replacements were experienced players like Leroy Sané and Serge Gnabry, who face stiff competition from Musiala and Florian Wirtz, making it difficult to simply put in obligatory performances. In attack, Tim Kleindienst took advantage of Niclas Füllkrug’s absence not only with his two goals but also with many smart moves in tandem with Musiala, Wirtz and Kai Havertz.
“That attacking football seemed to work 95% of the time,” said the scorer of both goals. “We had so many opportunities. It’s great for all the fans who were there to see such a spectacle today.”
Looking forward to the final international match against Hungary next Tuesday, we can conclude that the German national team has improved in all categories, making notable progress.
