Julian Nagelsmann admits Germany are ‘in no position to underestimate an opponent’ ahead of Luxembourg | OneFootball

Even if neighboring Luxembourg are ranked 84 places below Germany in FIFA’s world footballing ratings, German national team head coach Julian Nagelsmann wished to emphasize that he wasn’t taking tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier in Sinsheim lightly. After a disappointing September international break, Nagelsmann knows full well that his job is on the line.

Luxembourg managed to upset 32nd-ranked Sweden in a March friendly earlier this year. Moreover, there are plenty of players in head coach Jeff Strasser’s squad who know German football well. Strasser himself is a former Bundesliga professional who once took UEFA licensing courses with Nagelsmann.

Bundesliga professionals such Augsburg’s Aiman Dardari, SpVgg Greuther Fürth’s Mathias Olesen, and Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Yvandro Borges Sanchez are all on Strasser’s squad. St. Pauli’s Danel Sinani – in the midst of a great season – will likely start.

So too will former Mainz star Leandro Barreiro, who spent six seasons putting in stellar work for die Rheinhessen. Barreiro has already commented on the possibility of another stunning upset, an outcome that will almost certainly cost Nagelsmann his post.

“We also beat Bayern a few times with Mainz and managed to stay in the league after seven points in the first half of the [2020/21] season,” Barreiro – quoted by Kicker – remarked earlier this week. “No one is betting on us. No one thinks we have a chance. But what defines me as a person is that I believe the impossible is possible.“

At a Thursday DFB press event, Nagelsmann concurred.

“I don’t think we’re in a position to underestimate an opponent,” Nagelsmann said. “Luxembourg are doing well. They can play freely and have shown in recent games that they can adapt their game. So I expect a good opponent. I have never gone into a team meeting and said: We have to win the game by a large margin. That is rarely conducive to motivation and shows little respect for the opponent.“

GGFN | Peter Weis