The employment question at hand
In Cologne, Julian Nagelsmann, the coach of Germany's national team, is gearing up for his 25th international game against Northern Ireland. The team is in need of a victory, having suffered a disappointing opening loss in Bratislava and subsequent defeats against Portugal and France.
Nagelsmann expressed concerns about another disappointing result, emphasizing the importance of the team, not himself, in the upcoming game. He called for "emotional football" and "energetic teamwork" during the pre-match press conference.
Florian Wirtz, Germany's "Footballer of the Year", remains an essential and untouchable difference-maker for Nagelsmann. Despite being substituted after just 32 minutes in the last international match in Cologne, Wirtz is unlikely to suffer the same fate this time.
Changes are needed in the German offense, with key players like Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz unavailable, and Tim Kleindienst injured. Nagelsmann has developed a new "idea" that involves changes in personnel for the game. Some changes in the starting lineup are expected, but not all ten field players will be rotated.
One possible change could see Pascal Groß from Borussia Dortmund start on the right side, as Joshua Kimmich is expected to stay in midfield. An emotional player like Robert Andrich could now be called upon to play alongside Kimmich.
Joshua Kimmich criticized a lack of "aggression in possession" after the goalless draw in Bratislava. Oliver Baumann, the goalkeeper, spoke about the importance of the "basics" such as energy, tackling, and winning second balls after the "lifeless" performance in Slovakia.
Mats Hummels, a key figure in the 2014 German World Cup-winning team, will be honoured by the DFB for his services. The name of the player who will be honoured by DFB Sports Director Rudi Völler for his performances before the match on Sunday in Cologne is not specified in the available information.
The game is scheduled for Sunday at 20:45 CET and will be broadcast on RTL. Nagelsmann, however, is not focusing on becoming world champions, but on the upcoming game against Northern Ireland. Despite the pressure, he remains optimistic, emphasizing the team's potential and the importance of each player's contribution.
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