Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann takes charge of his first match on home soil in Saturday\u2019s friendly against Turkey in Berlin, promising improvements in defence seven months from hosting Euro 2024. <\/p>\n
Nagelsmann, 36, was named Germany\u2019s coach in September after former boss Hansi Flick became the first manager in the country\u2019s history to be sacked.<\/p>\n
Flick was let go with Germany administrators fearing humiliation in the home tournament, the coach having overseen a group stage exit at the Qatar World Cup and a run of five winless games.<\/p>\n
Flick\u2019s Germany conceded 13 goals in that five-game run, including four against Japan in what became the 58-year-old\u2019s final match in charge. <\/p>\n
Nagelsmann took over Germany ahead of the U.S. tour in October.<\/p>\n
Germany beat the U.S. 3-1 and drew 2-2 with Mexico, showing Nagelsmann that the side still has defensive improvements to make.<\/p>\n
– \u2018Construction site\u2019 –<\/p>\n
When Germany won the World Cup in Brazil in 2014, the side conceded just four goals in seven matches, shutting out Portugal, USA, France and runner-up Argentina.<\/p>\n
Speaking when announcing his squad on Friday, Nagelsmann called the team\u2019s habit of leaking goals was \u201ca construction site\u201d saying \u201cwe want to build a stable defense.\u201d <\/p>\n
It is a sentiment well understood throughout Nagelsmann\u2019s charges, with midfielder Leon Goretzka saying \u201cit is still too easy to score goals against us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone is aware that defence is the key to success in tournaments. We haven\u2019t been able to do it so well in the past few tournaments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Germany last kept a clean sheet at a major tournament in 2016 in a 3-0 win over Slovakia. <\/p>\n
Known for his tactical flexibility, Nagelsmann wants to understand his options at the back, saying his side \u201cneed to become more variable defensively.\u201d <\/p>\n
Nagelsmann brought back 2014 World Cup winner Mats Hummels, who has had an impressive season at Borussia Dortmund, while regulars Antonio Ruediger, Niklas Suele and Jonathan Tah have also been selected. <\/p>\n
– \u2018Too many goals\u2019 –<\/p>\n
The defensive lynchpin of undefeated league leaders Bayer Leverkusen, Tah recognised Germany\u2019s problem but said on Thursday everyone on the field needed to pitch in.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re definitely conceding too many goals. That\u2019s something that we need to fix tactically as a team.\u201d <\/p>\n
Tah has been in career-best form under manager Xabi Alonso as his Leverkusen side have won 16 and drawn one of their 17 matches in all competitions this season. <\/p>\n
Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross, 32, handed a national team debut as part of Flick\u2019s last Germany squad, echoed Tah\u2019s sentiments, saying on Thursday defensive stability should not only be left to the defenders. <\/p>\n
\u201c(In the midfield) you are on the ball and can give the team stability, security with the ball, against the ball. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou can put the attackers in good positions, but also take care that there\u2019s a good balance in both directions.\u201d <\/p>\n
While Flick\u2019s gung-ho approach tended to leave his side open at the back, Nagelsmann has his side focusing on the minutiae of top defending. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019re working on here. Better processes, details\u201d Tah told reporters on Thursday. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe will try and implement that in the next two games.\u201d <\/p>\n
Tah, 27, said \u201cit is important that you communicate a lot\u201d when trying to defend. <\/p>\n
\u201cNarrow distances, a good connection to each other, in order to offer the opponent as few dangerous spaces as possible.\u201d <\/p>\n
Ilkay Gundogan, the first Germany captain with a Turkish background, will play the nation of his parents for the first time on Saturday. <\/p>\n
Despite missing Germany-born captain Hakan Calhanoglu and winger Cengiz Under for Saturday\u2019s match in Berlin, Turkey come into the game in top form. <\/p>\n
Turkey have lost just one of their seven Euro 2024 qualifiers, scoring 13 goals in the process. The Crescent Stars sit top of their group, with their progress to the tournament guaranteed. <\/p>\n
Saturday\u2019s match in Berlin might be a friendly but the German capital\u2019s huge Turkish population is likely to turn out in force in the hope of a big performance.<\/p>\n
\nComments\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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