Nagelsmann lays down the law: Bayern stars at risk of being benched | OneFootball

After the defeat against Slovakia, Julian Nagelsmann is under pressure. Ahead of the game against Northern Ireland, the national coach now responds decisively.

Several prominent names are dropped from the starting lineup - a move that shows: After the 0:2 debacle in Bratislava, Nagelsmann is taking action. According to information from BILD, Maximilian Mittelstädt, Nnamdi Collins, Leon Goretzka, Jonathan Tah, and Angelo Stiller will initially have to take a seat on the bench against Northern Ireland. Their places will be taken by Waldemar Anton, David Raum, Robin Koch, Jamie Leweling, and Pascal Groß.

The overhaul is the direct response to the disappointing start to the World Cup qualification. During the historic away debacle against Slovakia, the DFB team seemed aimless, erratic, and completely overwhelmed defensively. Positioning errors followed one after the other, while offensively hardly any accents were set. Only goalkeeper Oliver Baumann could exempt himself from criticism. Captain Joshua Kimmich hit the nail on the head: "We all know that it was a very, very bad game from each and every one."

Above all, Collins and Mittelstädt disappointed on the flanks and seemed overwhelmed. Collins sometimes acted more like a winger, but left huge gaps at the back. Tah and Rüdiger also struggled to get a grip in the center, which repeatedly drove the coach and teammates to despair. Julian Nagelsmann made no secret of his disappointment after the match: "The opponent was far superior to us. We lacked emotionality from the first to the last minute - you can't win a game like that."

Nagelsmann is clear

The personnel changes are not surprising, even though Nagelsmann had already announced before the match that he would not replace half the team. Now there are indeed five new faces who are supposed to bring fresh wind against Northern Ireland - led by returnee Pascal Groß, who is supposed to stabilize the right defense side so that Kimmich stays in the center.

"Something will happen, but not all ten will be rotated out," Nagelsmann said before the game - and he meant it. After three consecutive competitive defeats, the pressure is enormous. Another defeat against Northern Ireland would not only be a low point for the team, but also historic: A series of four defeats in a row last happened in 1913.

Despite all the changes, Nagelsmann wants to look forward. "It's not about thinking about qualification now, but about the game," he made clear. He doesn't have much time. But with fresh personnel and a clear message to the established players, the first real test of his tenure begins on Sunday.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.