BERLIN (AP) – The recent performance in the mini-tournament has forced Germany to face the harsh reality ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Nations League Final Four In Germany, Julian Nagelsmann’s squad aimed to prove they could stand among Europe’s elite. However, they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Portugal and another loss of 2-0 to France in Stuttgart, exposing the gap in class.
This outcome highlighted that Tournament Winner Portugal, the beaten finalist Spain – the European champion – and a talented French team are among the favorites, alongside Defending Champion Argentina, to clinch the prestigious soccer award next year.
Nagelsmann attempted to maintain a positive outlook, mentioning that Germany created numerous chances in the first half against France on Sunday, although Didier Deschamps had already indicated the limited importance he placed on the third-place decider.
Kylian Mbappé scored before halftime and had the opportunity for more as Les Bleus found their rhythm in the second half.
“Considering the first half, they really had no incentive to win, yet they still got the result,” said German captain Joshua Kimmich.
The German forwards struggled with clinical finishing compared to France.
A similar situation unfolded against Portugal, who came together on Wednesday for a decisive win over Germany.
Portuguese coach Roberto Martinez altered the game in the second half by substituting Vitinha, Francisco Conceição, and Nelson Semedo.
Coach Nagelsmann pointed to a lack of injury intensity from his squad—Jamal Musiala, Angelo Stiller, Kai Havertz, Antonio Rüdiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, Tim Kleindienst, Jonathan Burkardt, and Yann Aurel Bisseck.
Meanwhile, France managed without key players like Ousmane Dembélé and Eduardo Camavinga, and Deschamps missed three of his first-choice defenders: William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, and Jules Koundé.
Even with fully fit line-ups, the question remains whether Germany can match its rivals in terms of player development and youth quality.
The Nations League team, featuring nine Spanish players under Luis de la Fuente, is young enough to partake in the Under-21 European Championships in Slovakia on Wednesday.
Star player Lamine Yamal is only 17, but Real Madrid’s new signing Dean Huijsen appeared to have been part of the Spanish setup for years; this final marked his fourth appearance.
“When it comes to squad depth, it’s evident we need to let go of the illusion that everything will be sorted in a year,” Nagelsmann remarked. “There are some areas in German football that require much more attention.”
Nagelsmann noted Spain’s diverse use of offensive players, such as Yamal and Nico Williams, and highlighted that Germany’s long-standing shortage of wingbacks has been an ongoing issue, particularly as Kimmich prefers to play in midfield.
“Now we need to assess where we stand globally, what’s essential going forward, and learn the necessary lessons,” Nagelsmann stated. “It’s ideal to have one or two players make significant strides before next year, but that’s certainly limited.”
The 37-year-old Nagelsmann called for patience from the media, confident in a “strong (World Cup) qualifying campaign and a successful tournament” next summer in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
Nagelsmann also shifted some blame towards the media.
“You need to have a bit of faith and ease off the brake,” he asserted. “We are all in this together.”
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Source: apnews.com