Manuel Neuer’s injury has thwarted the pious wish to finally get his European Championship defense ready. The defense remains a major construction site, especially on the left with Julian Nagelsmann everything is still open.
From Saturday (9 p.m., live ticker at sportschau.de) the experimental phase should come to an end. According to Julian Nagelsmann, the game against France, like the prestigious duel with the Netherlands on Tuesday, is intended to initiate direct preparation for the home World Cup from June 14th – and consistency and reliability are needed, especially in defense.
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Tah placed next to Rüdiger in the DFB defense
According to Nagelsmann’s will, Manuel Neuer should be number one and give the recently so vulnerable defensive line the necessary support – the Bayern keeper’s muscle fiber tear on Wednesday morning (March 20, 2024) at least thwarted this plan.
Nevertheless, three players have been identified who should stem the flood of goals conceded this year: alongside Antonio Rüdiger from Spain’s leaders Real Madrid, Jonathan Tah from Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen is now the first choice in the center of defense. Joshua Kimmich is scheduled to play on the right, but it remains to be seen whether this measure will stabilize the back four.
Antonio Rüdiger and Jonathan Tah during training for the German national team.
Germany conceded seven goals in three games
As is well known, Kimmich always likes to move forward; he also wants to help shape the game from the right wing, hit crosses and maybe even look for shots himself. None of this sounds like ideal conditions for closing the rear.
But the latter is essential for success in the summer and is actually Nagelsmann’s requirement: in the last three international matches of the previous year, a whopping seven goals were conceded: 0:2 in Austria (November 21st), three days earlier 2:3 against Turkey, Before that, 2-2 against Mexico on October 18th – Nagelsmann says he wants to work hard on this problem from now on.
Of course, it could be worse than relying on the central defense chiefs of two presumably future champions in two top European leagues. But Nagelsmann also has to manage to discipline Kimmich defensively. Who is chosen on the left side is perhaps the most exciting question in the DFB ensemble.
Chance for Maximilian Mittelstädt
In addition to Neuer, Jan-Niklas Beste from Heidenheim was injured on Wednesday; he was one of the candidates for this wing position. David Raum from RB Leipzig has recently stabilized, but newcomer Maximilian Mittelstädt from the Stuttgart faction, which is currently very popular with Nagelsmann, should also have a chance.
Whether the defense chain with Kimmich, Rüdiger, Tah and Raum or Mittelstädt can survive against the fast French and Dutch and play in European Championship form depends on another factor: Nagelsmann has to find the ideal formation on the double six to relieve the defense in advance if possible.
Who will be the “Holding Six”?
In addition to returnee Toni Kroos, Pascal Groß from Brighton & Hove Albion currently has the best prospects, because a variant with Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz or captain Ilkay Gündogan from FC Barcelona would not offer enough protection at the back. So it remains exciting in any case: due to Neuer’s injury in goal, on the left flank and on the “holding six” in front of the back four.
Antonio Rüdiger made it clear once again on Wednesday that, in addition to all the personnel puzzles, the basic prerequisite for a successful European Championship is: “We have to go back to the basics: willingness and mentality.”