After two strong performances against Scotland and Hungary, the DFB team struggled for a long time in their clash with Switzerland to win the group. Julian Nagelsmann sees the positive aspects, but also clearly addresses what could have gone better
“We woke up the stadium,” Nagelsmann said in an interview with ARD after the 1:1 draw against Switzerland. The atmosphere in Frankfurt’s Deutsche Bank Park was tense for a long time after the German national team trailed for a while and threatened to let the group win slip from their grasp.
However, the fact that the game went exactly as it did “was a very good rehearsal for knockout matches”, said the 36-year-old, who used the same starting eleven for the fourth time in a row – despite the threatening yellow card situation. “It was well deserved that we came back. We were better in all statistical terms. “
Andrich goal should have counted for Nagelsmann
The fact that the DFB team had not scored earlier was also due to referee Daniele Orsato’s decision to take back Robert Andrich’s goal in minute 17 because Jamal Musiala had fouled Michel Aebischer in the build-up. “I think you can let that go. The contact clearly comes after a controlled ball. Jamal didn’t stretch his leg. I don’t think you have to blow the whistle.” Overall, Nagelsmann did not seem particularly satisfied with the performance of the 48-year-old Italian, who, according to the national coach, did not have a “really clear line” and also showed Jonathan Tah – wrongly, according to Nagelsmann – a yellow card.
Nagelsmann did not want to dwell on the referee for too long, however, but instead quickly returned to the performance of his team, which he would have liked to see play more behind the chain in the early stages. “Then it would have been very difficult for Switzerland.” For the national coach, the performance in the draw against Switzerland was even better than in the 2-0 win against Hungary last Wednesday. “If we play better in depth, we’ll take the lead,” said Nagelsmann confidently.
Meanwhile, Nagelsmann once again had the right touch when it came to substitutions, replacing both assist provider David Raum and the reliable Niclas Füllkrug, who headed in the 1:1 in stoppage time. There is “a very special spirit in the team that they have to keep,” said Nagelsmann, who spoke of an embrace between the two left-back rivals Maximilian Mittelstädt and Raum. This spirit can “trigger a lot.”
Who the DFB team will face in the round of 16 will not be known until late Tuesday evening, but it is clear that it will be the runner-up from Group C. “We’ve already prepared all our opponents. It’s not ideal, but we have two more days to recover. It all evens out in soccer. “
