Munich – It is the image that remains, that is imprinted. As we know, the last impression counts. And this is the story of a coach of the German national team, who fights with himself and his tears, who struggles with calmness and the right words. Even a little over 16 hours after the unfortunate, dramatic elimination from the European Championship due to the 1:2 after extra time in the quarter-finals against Spain.
“There wasn’t a player who didn’t have tears in his eyes when he said goodbye”
Have you ever seen a national coach so emotional, so open? Already during the television interviews on Friday evening in the Stuttgart stadium Julian Nagelsmann sobbing, his voice faltering, his eyes moist. Especially when it came to ‘his boys’, as he always says. About togetherness, about cooperation. The 36-year-old transferred his dedication and passion for the job to his team. These in turn, his boys, showed emotions on Saturday morning after a final breakfast and a final speech and said goodbye to the coaching team and the staff, overcome with emotion.
The players left the DFB camp in Herzogenaurach in minibuses. Parting hurts, but looking each other in the eye hurts even more. Melancholy, the pain of saying goodbye, coming to terms with a defeat. “There was no player who didn’t have tears in his eyes when he said goodbye,” Nagelsmann said – and had to cry.
Nagelsmann’s fresh air of calculation and feeling, clear analysis and courageous openness
You’ve never seen anything like it in this country. A national coach whose emotions made the blood flow faster through his veins and gave his cheeks a bright red complexion. The vulnerable ‘federal tear’ reflected the feelings of the fans and gave the collective grief a personal face. Shared suffering throughout the country.
From a German perspective, reaching the quarter-finals of the European Championship AND failing against the Spanish has a big winner: Julian Nagelsmann. It brought a breath of fresh air DFB and in the selection of the national team. Who was so free. In many ways. Who was authentic and didn’t pretend. Who did his thing, who did his thing.
Also the ritual of the reward kiss from his girlfriend Lena, who cheered in the stands at every match in the shirt and with the German colours. Calculation and feeling. Clear analysis, courageous openness.
Nagelsmann’s success is reflected in the soft factors
“Julian Nagelsmann has redefined the position of national coach for me somewhat in recent weeks,” DFB president Bernd Neuendorf said in admiration on Saturday. “He radiated incredible energy, an incredible spirit.”
Some of his predecessors have been more successful than Nagelsmann, the youngest coach in European Championship history, who went into this tournament with just eight caps to his name. But his work cannot be measured by reaching the last eight, which is in fact the national team’s biggest success since Euro 2016. But on the soft factors. With the 2026 World Cup in North America in mind, yes DFB team awakened new desire and created the breeding ground for future success. The doubts are gone, pride and hope are back.
Nagelsmann begins addressing the nation
Still energetic and full of adrenaline, Nagelsmann took courage at the press conference and took the opportunity to send out a few messages. “We live in a country where there is far too much sadness. There is too much pessimism in this country for me,” said Nagelsmann: “Together we have managed to shake this country up a little and give it beautiful moments. I hope that this symbiosis between football fans and a football team also takes place in society, that we understand that we can achieve more as a community.”
The call, a statesman in a sports shirt, wrapped in an answer to the (football) nation: “Together we are stronger. Stronger with fans than without. Stronger with your neighbor than without.” The national team as pioneers, the national players as role models? It’s been a long, damn long time.
“A golden trophy like that also looks very nice in the collection”
The unique nature of the home EC in his career is over. “That hurts,” said Nagelsmann, who was “very satisfied” with his job and added: “That you now have to wait two years to become world champion also hurts!”
On Saturday he said mischievously: “A gold trophy like that would be nice to have in your collection.” When dreams fall apart, you need new goals quickly.