Tactical experiment failed, home debut a failure: Julian Nagelsmann makes an appeal to the soccer nation after the defeat against Turkey.

Popcorn bowls were served in the press conference room for Julian Nagelsmann’s big appeal to the appalled soccer nation. At least the national coach, in his appeal against pessimism and for more optimism about the European Championships, exuded the passion deep below the still boiling Olympic Stadium that he harshly denied some of the players. Criticism, yes, Nagelsmann saw that as appropriate – but not doomsday fantasies, even after an alarming defeat.

“We can now paint a bleak picture and see everything in a bad light, but that won’t get us anywhere,” Nagelsmann emphasized annoyed, while 50,000 Turkish fans danced above him into a fiery Berlin night after their “home win”. DFB president Bernd Neuendorf also warned on Bild TV the morning after the sobering 2:3 (1:2): “We often fall into the trap of getting into a toxic situation and talking everything down. We now have to build on our strengths.”

Strengthen strengths? Really? Shouldn’t obvious weaknesses have been eliminated for a long time? Nagelsmann had put two topics at the top of his list of priorities – emotionality and stable defending. There was no sign of either in front of an enormously loud, whistling away crowd.

The national team has conceded 20 goals in ten games so far this year. The last one they conceded was against Peru in March, the last in a major tournament at Euro 2016. The phenomenon of not throwing yourself at your opponents with the utmost passion is also anything but new – Joachim Löw and Hansi Flick can tell you a thing or two about it. “Defensive work is a matter of the head,” said Julian Brandt.

Nagelsmann was annoyed that “some players didn’t have one hundred percent conviction, the will of their opponents”. He left it up to interpretation who he was referring to. His exaggerated eulogy to left-back (yes, really) Kai Havertz, however, suggested that at least the attacking player, who was completely unexpectedly retrained, was allowed to exempt himself from this.

An hour before the start of the game, a line-up had been printed which, with the best will in the world, did not actually form a back four. Then word of the tactical sensation spread.

“World class, sensational,” was how Nagelsmann described the performance of the recently struggling Arsenal professional Havertz afterwards. The transfer offers the 24-year-old “a very, very big chance to become a formative player at this European Championship”. Because in his traditional position up front, there is little to be gained against Jamal Musiala or Leroy Sane.

So this failed experiment is by no means buried. In fact, the defeat was not primarily down to Havertz, who scored the early 1:0, but was also unfortunate enough to be at fault for the controversial penalty to make it 2-3.

“I’ve never thought about why a world-class player can’t play in a different position,” Nagelsmann emphasized. Havertz was not a classic left-back, but rather a forward-moving player in an asymmetrical chain. Nagelsmann called him an “offensive joker”.

The system with the “whirlwind” up front worked for around 25 minutes. “We sat up top and were delighted,” reported Neuendorf. “Then it became inexplicable.” Or maybe not: Turkey let themselves be whipped up by the atmosphere and took control on the pitch with toughness and self-confidence.

Looking ahead again

From then on, the great European Championship euphoria could be felt right down to the last crack in the concrete stairs – but from a German perspective, on the wrong side. “We’re disillusioned,” said Thomas Müller, “but the good thing is that it’s not the last game of this international break. We’re already looking ahead to Tuesday – we’ll try to shake it off.”

However, it will hardly be any easier against the strong Austrians and their coach Ralf Rangnick in Vienna. “They bring extreme emotion into it, which is further encouraged by his soccer,” said Nagelsmann. Again: the passion!

“We have to be at the same level, every single player,” emphasized the frustrated national coach: “Then the higher quality will prevail.” Otherwise, the four months until the next international match will be very, very long.