There’s still a bitter taste in the mouths of fans after Germany crashed out of the World Cup in the Round of 32 by virtue of losing to Paraguay on penalties after finishing 1-1 after extra time.
Jonathan Tah’s late winner getting ruled out by a controversial VAR decision made it a more bitter pill to swallow, but the fact of the matter is the national team did not do enough to stamp their place in the Round of 16 and now there’s a waiting game to see if the DFB will relieve Nagelsmann of his duties.
The former Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, and Hoffenheim manager has already said he plans on staying and fulfilling the rest of his contract, but it might not be up to him. Jürgen Klopp is the current frontrunner to replace Nagelsmann if the DFB decides to pull the trigger on sacking the latter, but time will tell what winds up happening.
In the aftermath of yet another disappointing World Cup exit for Die Mannschaft, Sky Sport journalist Florian Plettenberg wrote an opinion piece in which he views Nagelsmann’s dismissal from the DFB as more of an inevitability than anything else. Not doing so, in his opinion, would send all the wrong signals for not only the national team, but also the top brass of the DFB as a whole:
The fact that Nagelsmann is now stating he does not intend to resign is likely due in part to financial reasons. It’s no secret that he holds what is arguably the most lucrative contract any national team coach has ever received in the history of the DFB.
If the DFB did indeed fail to include an exit clause or provision for a situation like this when renewing the contract in 2025, Andreas Rettig, Rudi Völler, and Bernd Neuendorf will also have to face tough questions. At that point, the issue will no longer be limited to the national team coach, but will also involve the leadership’s responsibility.
There’s no need for weeks of analysis right now. The conclusion is obvious: things cannot continue this way. Julian Nagelsmann himself would have to be the first to realize this. Resigning would be a sign of greatness and responsibility.
It’s safe to say that Plettenberg’s opinion is a sentiment shared by a large number of Germany fans that have had to see the squad blunder out of three straight World Cups in frustrating fashion after getting a brief glimmer of hope with the team’s performances at Euro 2024. Two summers ago, they were an uncalled Marc Cucurella handball away from marching into the final.
In Klopp, Plettenberg also feels the former Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, and Mainz manager fits the billing perfectly for replacing Nagelsmann:
Jürgen Klopp is the ideal successor in my opinion. The post of national coach is exactly the task for which he would end his early retirement as a coach. Klopp stands like no other for new beginnings, authority, an inspiring idea of the game and success – exactly the qualities that the DFB has been missing for years. He can manage to unite the country and the team.
Klopp himself was already asked about taking over for Nagelsmann, but he said it’s not the right time to be thinking about that so soon after Germany’s exit from the World Cup. Nonetheless, it’s one of two projects he has previously said he would be willing to step back into in a managerial capacity; either Real Madrid or the German national team.
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