Two good games against the Netherlands and France are enough for fans and experts to be euphoric. When it comes to the national team, Germany has absolutely no standards.
Two who found each other: Toni Kroos and coach Julian Nagelsmann.
Michael Weber / Imago
Oscillating between depression and euphoria: Clinical psychology has a name for this oscillating state. It’s called bipolar disorder. Anyone who is currently looking at the German national football team, at the mood of the fans, at the mood of the coach, and especially at the reactions to the German performances, might think of comparing the mood with such a clinical picture.
Because on Tuesday evening, late at night, a not insignificant gentleman on television spoke about the title prospects that coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team had at the upcoming European Championships in their own country: The situation reminded him a little of 1990, said Lothar Matthäus, from Germany Back then, as captain, he led Italy to the world championship title.
“Major Tom” is demanded by the fans as the anthem
With this, Matthäus was just echoing the mood that prevailed in the Frankfurt stadium: After the 2-1 win against the Netherlands, the Germans’ first appearance in the color pink, which used to be not at all uncommon in football, it was difficult to resist the general enthusiasm . Everything seemed to be right: the teamwork, the effort, but ultimately also the luck that goes into winning a game against a good and robust opponent.
When Maximilian Mittelstädt equalized the Dutch’s early lead in the eleventh minute with a magnificent kick from the edge of the penalty area, the Neue Deutsche Welle hit “Major Tom” was heard for the first time – the German national team’s new goal anthem, played by the appendix had been vehemently demanded.
An audience that values being involved in the musical selection: This is a level of participation that was hardly imaginable in the fall, when the football crowd turned a blind eye to the team. Back then, the team meandered to a degree that not only caused great concern for the experts. After the coach Hansi Flick was fired, the eternal folk hero Rudi Völler took over the coaching job for one game. With him the team won 2-1 in Dortmund against France. The mood the following day was not at all dissimilar to the one that is now sweeping through the country: “So it’s okay after all.” – “The team isn’t that bad.” – “All you need are clear instructions and a committed trainer.” These were the findings.
But then former Bayern coach Nagelsmann took over, and after two passable performances, he suffered two defeats against Turkey and Austria that were extremely worrying in their nature. The coach spoke rather confusedly and the fans were worried.
Nagelsmann’s change is having an impact
Nagelsmann reacted: He completely rebuilt the squad, persuaded Toni Kroos to return, nominated players from the currently strong Stuttgart and Leverkusen players, and said goodbye to sluggish senators like Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka. Above all, however, he attached great importance to creating a positive atmosphere before the international matches, apparently with success: “Overall, the ten days were really great for the team,” said Nagelsmann. Captain Ilkay Gündogan confirmed that “it was really fun and there was a good spirit – you can feel it.”
For now, the result of the major change can be described as successful. Finally, before the 2-1 win against the Dutch, the French were also defeated, 2-0 in Lyon. The experts were already excited because the team combined well and played a great game. The only thing was: the French seemed strangely listless and the performance had no real significance. It was different against the Dutch. The previously frenetically celebrated Toni Kroos had no room to play his game as preferred. The fact that the Nagelsmann team didn’t let this affect them speaks for itself.
There are also a few small details from which the Germans can draw hope. They do not come from the tactics foxes’ pocket, but from the “Team Spirit” section. There were a lot of players who weren’t burdened by the long series of failures, said Toni Kroos: “It was good for us that not quite as many brought this backpack with them here because of the relatively radical exchange.”
The team also has something of a hierarchy again. Antonio Rüdiger, the Real Madrid central defender who recently hit the headlines for a controversial gesture, gets along well with Jonathan Tah in central defense. Toni Kroos and Robert Andrich complement each other, and Florian Wirtz and Ilkay Gündogan don’t get in each other’s way in the creative department of the midfield.
Each of the veterans has a player at their side who accepts their role and is not above taking on unpleasant tasks if necessary. At least against France and the Netherlands a balance was achieved that this team has not had for a long time.
There were always setbacks after good games
Just: Isn’t the situation a little similar to last October, when Nagelsmann made his debut? Wasn’t there a lot of relief back then when the team performed well against the USA and wasn’t impressed by Mexico? And what was it like before when Rudi Völler was the national coach for a few days?
The reactions were exactly the same. The relief was always enormous. It seemed difficult to imagine that the team would disappoint like that again. Just: Where did this confidence come from? Didn’t Nagelsmann ask the question about quality himself? And hasn’t the slump in German football lasted long enough for two resolute performances against renowned opponents to be more than a description of the moment?
Nagelsmann is probably aware of the risk, especially Rudi Völler, whose wealth of experience Nagelsmann referred to after the game. The director of the national team was one of the realists that evening, when the DFB team was successful: “We should remain humble. We didn’t paint it quite so badly after the defeats, but now we won’t put the brakes on, but we’ll give a little warning. The most important thing was to believe in your own strength again.”