Before the start of the Nations League, Julian Nagelsmann warned against too much moaning about the prominent resignations in the national football team. “Of course there are four big players who are very important. But we would do well to look ahead now and not keep saying what is going to be eliminated,” said the national coach before the match against Hungary this Saturday (8.45 p.m./ZDF) in Düsseldorf.
Nagelsmann will have to make do without Ilkay Gündogan as captain and without the last three Rio World Cup winners Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos and Thomas Müller, who all ended their international careers after the European Championships at home. The 34-year-old Kroos has even stopped playing professionally altogether.
“A change is always a great opportunity for the players who were behind or had played less,” said Nagelsmann. “That’s why I’m looking forward to what’s coming,” added the 37-year-old Nagelsmann.
Changes are already visible against Hungary. Marc-André ter Stegen is the new number one in goal. Joshua Kimmich is the new captain. Pascal Groß for Kroos and Niclas Füllkrug instead of Gündogan in the attacking unit with Kai Havertz get a chance to start.
Experience of 451 international matches missing
However, the departure of the quartet means that Nagelsmann will no longer have the experience of 451 international matches – more than his current squad can offer in total. “Of course I was also sad when the four said they were quitting,” he admitted. “But that’s how it is in football, but now we’re moving on. I’m very confident that we’ll play good football not just tomorrow,” Nagelsmann said on the eve of the Hungary test.