Nagelsmann has achieved the most important thing at the start of a new era – what remains to be done

Clear thing, clear goal: World champions in 2026. National coach Julian Nagelsmann made the bold announcement shortly after the European Championship exit at the final press conference in Herzogenaurach.

Since the national team lost the last remaining world champions and the captain after the tournament, there was a lot of praise as well as pessimistic tones after Nagelsmann’s bold statement.

“When a coach says he will become world champion, I think it’s crazy that that is criticized,” the national coach defended himself a few days ago. “I would like to read the headlines if I had said after the European Championships: ‘I don’t want to become world champion.’ “I didn’t care about being European champion, and I don’t care about being world champion either.”

DFB team impresses in international matches

The nation has now had its first taste of how Nagelsmann intends to master the 2026 mission. He did not want to talk about a new era and kept the European Championship squad almost together. 21 of 23 players were already part of the squad in the summer. They now have to move up a level in the internal hierarchy.

“A change is always a great opportunity for the players who were lagging behind or had played less,” said Nagelsmann. His team followed the coach’s words with actions. The DFB eleven put on a gala performance against Hungary, convincingly beating their European Championship group opponents 5-0.

The entertaining and exciting offensive football was also on display in Amsterdam in the 2:2 draw against the Dutch Elftal. The team did make mistakes, but it was not to be expected that all the innovations from day one would work 100 percent.

Much more important is that the German team has consolidated itself and is confident in its own strengths. Setbacks, such as the early 0:1 in the Johan Cruyff Arena, are no longer an immediate knockout. The DFB team played their own football and created a strong 21 shots. The passionately fought 2:2 draw is to be viewed positively despite the anger over the referee’s decisions and the loss of points.

“Getting better every day”

“The team believes in itself, that’s the key.” “They absolutely wanted to give it their all, that’s what the fans want to see,” said Nagelsmann happily. National coach Ronald Koeman also saw a “fantastic football game” with a “high level” and “high intensity.” He described the German team as “world class.”

The fact that players like captain Joshua Kimmich and Jamal Musiala are nevertheless dissatisfied with the result is proof of the new mentality in the team. Even without the experience of the 451 international matches played by the retired quartet, the team has matured and grown up.

“We are getting better every day, the team chemistry is outstanding,” said debut goalscorer Deniz Undav, adding: “We are not far from achieving something great.”

There it is, the next announcement. Good! This creates the confidence that you can win every game.

Nagelsmann’s big construction site

But Nagelsmann still has a few tasks to complete. The defense was particularly vulnerable. Against Hungary, the mistakes were not punished, but the Dutch then exposed their weaknesses in a brutal way. With the high tempo, the through balls and the powerful physicality of Brian Brobbey, the back line was overwhelmed at times.

The duo Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck rarely worked together. The Leverkusen player put in perhaps his worst performance in Amsterdam in a white shirt with the eagle on his chest and was substituted at half-time with a yellow card.

Schlotterbeck played a decisive role in the 2-2 equaliser and lost the duel against Brobbey. Nagelsmann was annoyed by the scene and advised the Dortmund player: “We are far too aggressive. Why? Just stay behind, position yourself and try to block the ball,” the coach analysed on RTL.

In principle, such behavior is “fine, we want aggressive players,” he continued. Better too aggressive than too little, said Nagelsmann. “But it’s not a moment to win the ball.” Because we are too active, he can turn around and then has a free foot. Unfortunately, we are a bit too late at the dead post.”

Defensive leader Antonio Rüdiger is expected to return in October. The Real Madrid central defender is considered a given – the competition for the position next to him should raise the level.

Nagelsmann draws “very positive conclusion”

Overall, Nagelsmann draws a “very positive conclusion” after the week and a half he and his players have spent. Four points from two games, leading the group in the Nations League, good football, a good atmosphere. Many things are going in the right direction.

But he will not let his World Cup promise be kept without help. “In the end, as a national coach, you have to say with humility that we need the clubs,” Nagelsmann said when asked by FOCUS Online. “We train well, create a good atmosphere and develop nuances, but we need the clubs so that the players stay in the flow.”

Nagelsmann continues to count down. There are still 17 international matches left until the World Cup in North America. “There is still a long way to go,” he said before the two games. “If we win the next 19 games before the World Cup, I’ll count us among the favorites.” Maybe even if we only win 14.” He has already managed one victory.