Germany left it late against Ghana as they closed out the game with a 2-1 victory. This game saw the team attain a lot more structure and impact especially after some tweaks and substitutions. Despite managing to fine tune his team for the better, manager Julian Nagelsmann is adamant that he wants to start games with a disadvantage.
The positive changes
There were three important changes that changed the team for the better. Bringing on Deniz Undav, the man is a true nine and his instincts and touch are sharper than ever.
Subbing in Lennart Karl who once again showed he can be an absolute firecracker even when there is no way forward.
The last being Joshua Kimmich being shifted back into midfield. Suddenly, the German squad got the structure it severely lacked in the previous game. With Kimmich at the base of things, the attack’s movements fell into place. Aside from Chris Führich, the entire attack along with Kimmich looked very dangerous in the final minutes of the game. Josha Vagnoman leaves much to be desired at RB and so this change is definitely not going to stick.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place
Coach Julian Nagelsmann explained why much change should not be expected despite the results and how the team looked in the final minutes. “We have defined roles. And I must stick to them in the next two matches before the World Cup, otherwise I can forget about my credibility. If I then do everything differently, there’s no point in having the discussion about roles in the first place,” said Nagelsmann (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
At this point Nageslmann seems stuck between discovering a good recipe and sticking to the one he initially thought was a good recipe. He needs to show some flexibility and be willing to make the changes. Woltemade and Havertz were wasteful. Undav can be a little disconnected but he looks to be the best striker on the roster. Kimmich in midfield needs a serious reconsideration, even though it would mean playing someone else at right-back.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
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