National coach Julian Nagelsmann has issued a warning to the German national team following their 2-1 friendly victory over Ghana, urging them to adapt their playing style with an eye on the upcoming World Cup.
After a narrow 4-3 win against Switzerland, the German squad also secured a 2-1 test match victory against Ghana. While Nagelsmann expressed general satisfaction with his team’s performance, he identified a crucial area needing significant improvement.
«Because the game was flowing very, very well, we became a bit impatient and then didn’t occupy positions as diligently as we should have,» Nagelsmann criticized. «It was a lot of ‘freestyle’ play again, just like against Switzerland. And sometimes, we simply aren’t secure enough in possession to justify such a spontaneous, unstructured approach.»
He noted that the squad’s composition is only partially suited for such an approach. «There are some players who can operate effectively in various positions, but there are also several players in the squad who simply feel more comfortable in one designated role and are more content when they maintain that position and can perform consistently well there.»
Conversely, when the play becomes too «freestyle» or undisciplined, it significantly increases the team’s susceptibility to opponent counter-attacks.
Nagelsmann praised the team’s tactical execution during the first 25 minutes against Ghana, remarking, «Ghana barely seemed to cross into our half.» He also pointed out that the German squad had ample opportunities to decide the match early. «Overall, in my opinion, we played better than against Switzerland, even if we scored fewer goals,» the national coach concluded.
Nagelsmann Warns Against Energy-Sapping Play in Hot Temperatures
When pressed further on his «freestyle» criticism, Nagelsmann firmly stated, «The team is making life difficult for itself.» Especially considering the high temperatures expected in the USA for the World Cup, he advised «avoiding unnecessarily long runs» and «not inviting opponents to launch counter-attacks.» He added, «Of the ten counter-attacks, you can eliminate seven or eight if you simply remain a bit more disciplined in your structural play.»
The national coach lauded his team’s attacking drive but urged for greater patience. «They want to win and score a goal, but it’s also sufficient if we do it late. The important thing is that we don’t concede two or three goals because we get caught on the counter.»
The German national team won the friendly match against Ghana 2-1, thanks to a penalty goal from Kai Havertz and a late strike from substitute Deniz Undav.