After the World Cup Debacle: DFB Faces Fundamental Decision on Nagelsmann – Klopp Considered the Preferred Choice

DFB President Bernd Neuendorf had already found clear words immediately after the defeat, declaring: "Nach einem derartigen Tiefschlag mit Blick auf die anstehenden Aufgaben werden wir nicht einfach zur Tagesordnung übergehen." The day after the World Cup exit, the association circulated a brief statement from its president, in which he said: "Wir können und wollen nach einem derartigen Tiefschlag mit Blick auf die anstehenden Aufgaben nicht einfach zur Tagesordnung übergehen." That does not sound like unconditional backing for the head coach.

DFB Leadership Signals Need for Action

Instead of a closing press conference as after Euro 2021 or Q&A sessions after the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024, this time there was only a video statement circulated by the DFB by Neuendorf, with no opportunity to ask questions. At Munich Airport, the 38-year-old Nagelsmann left the building in pouring rain through a rear exit – past a dozen journalists who waited in vain for a statement. The 38-year-old was accompanied by his partner Lena Wurzenberger, his mother Burgi, and his assistant coach and long-time companion Benjamin Glück.

According to reports, Jürgen Klopp is open to succeeding Nagelsmann. "Ich stehe bereit, wenn man das möchte," Klopp had already hinted beforehand. The 59-year-old former successful coach of Mainz, Dortmund and Liverpool currently works as "Head of Global Soccer" at the global corporation Red Bull, where his contract still runs until 2029. It is reported that Red Bull would definitely demand a transfer fee for Klopp's early release, likely in the single-digit million range.

Klopp Leaves Door Open – with Reservations

Asked about the specific case, however, Klopp reacted cautiously on "MagentaTV": "Ich habe einen Job und wir haben auch einen Bundestrainer," Klopp said. He also stated: "Da muss man jetzt einfach sagen: gut, da muss man sich irgendwann anders drum kümmern," Klopp said on "MagentaTV" before the round-of-16 match between England and the DR Congo. However, the 59-year-old had previously emphasized in his role as TV pundit on "MagentaTV" that he wanted to remain Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull.

Hummels also brought up Pep Guardiola as a possible candidate. "Ich glaube, dass sowohl Pep Guardiola als auch Jürgen Klopp überall hinpassen – jede Vereinsmannschaft, jede Nationalmannschaft. Deswegen könnte ich mir beide sehr gut vorstellen," said the 2014 World Champion, who had become the public's darling at the 2006 World Cup when – succeeding the luminary Franz Beckenbauer – he explained football to the Germans as a pundit on ZDF. "Die beiden besten Trainer des vergangenen Jahrzehnts, der letzten 17, 18 Jahre in meinen Augen weltweit," Hummels stressed.

Regarding Klopp, the World Champion added: "Er könnte ein Land auch nochmal komplett hinter sich vereininen. Es ist schon eine Vorstellung, die mir sehr gut gefällt, die eine Mannschaft noch mal komplett auf eine Spur bringt, wo es vor allem um das Gewinnen geht – nur um das Gewinnen, das ist das Wichtigste," said the 2014 World Champion. Former DFB manager Oliver Bierhoff also advised the association to pursue Klopp: "Ich glaube, da braucht man keinen Fachmann zu sein, dass man sagt, Jürgen Klopp ist als Bundestrainer, sollte er gewechselt werden, natürlich der Wunschtrainer," Bierhoff said on "Sky Sport DE".

Hummels Brings Guardiola into Play

Sami Khedira, 2014 World Champion, also weighed in. The fiasco in Foxborough against Paraguay was "die Quittung für die letzten Jahre," said the 2014 World Champion. With regard to the current squad, he added: "Wir dürfen die Kinder nicht in Watte packen und sagen: Das Gewinnen ist nicht wichtig, wir müssen einfach nur die perfekte Technik haben," Khedira said. "Kinder nicht in Watte packen" – he set off a debate that will now pick up steam again.

Bierhoff's former teammate Schweinsteiger, now an "ARD" pundit, also voiced criticism. "Man habe schon vor Jahren den Fehler gemacht zu sagen, jetzt müsse man versuchen, nur noch fußballerische Lösungen zu finden," said "ARD" pundit Schweinsteiger. Goalkeeping legend Oliver Kahn backed him up: "Wir haben entscheidende Entwicklungen im internationalen Fußball verpasst, das wird immer deutlicher."

Philipp Lahm, 2014 World Cup captain, placed the responsibility with the head coach in a guest column for "Kicker": "Für das Ausscheiden trägt natürlich der Bundestrainer die Verantwortung," said the 2014 World Cup captain. Lahm also offered no backing for the 38-year-old. "Ich habe nie eine Mannschaft gesehen, die miteinander agiert," Lahm said. The German team lacked a "natürliche Hierarchie," Lahm complained. He could also "perfekt" explain "warum wir die Gruppenphase mit sieben Punkten hätten beenden müssen." The two-time World Champion had, however, been eliminated early at the tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada with just two points.

Nagelsmann had been "schmallippig und patzig," Hummels criticized, while also acknowledging that he might still be emotional due to being dropped for the home European Championship. "Hummels bewertete den Auftritt von Nagelsmann nach dem Aus im Sechzehntelfinale gegen Paraguay im Elfmeterschießen als "zu schmallippig", zudem sei der Trainer "manchmal ein bisschen patzig" rübergekommen.

Contracts and Finances as Obstacles

Nagelsmann has a contract running until Euro 2028 and is said to earn around seven million euros per year. The basis for severance negotiations would therefore be a remaining contract value of 14 million. Nagelsmann himself ruled out resigning: "Ich bin keiner, der sagt, ich trete zurück, weil wir ausgeschieden sind," Nagelsmann had said. "Und wenn man das nicht möchte, muss man das sagen," Nagelsmann had said. He would "gerne" prepare for the Euro and the new Nations League round starting in September if the DFB wanted him to, Nagelsmann continued.

Unlike Löw, however, who in 2018 actually initially toyed with the idea of resigning, Nagelsmann announced right after the elimination that he would gladly continue and fulfil his contract running until 2028. Joachim Löw and Hansi Flick were able to stay in office after the World Cup disappointments of 2018 and 2022 because there was no natural successor candidate. "Drei Bundestrainer sind am selben Punkt gescheitert: Joachim Löw, Hansi Flick und Julian Nagelsmann. Wenn du dreimal ausscheidest so früh bei einer Weltmeisterschaft, ist das kein Zufall mehr." Kahn expressed a similar view.

Berti Vogts, the former head coach, wrote in his column for the "Rheinische Post": "Wir haben im Moment keine Spieler, die auf höchstem Niveau mithalten können". Vogts, in turn, is in favour of looking to other nations in the future: "Der Bundestrainer muss nach England fahren, nach Frankreich, nach Südamerika. Er muss schauen: Was wird da anders und vielleicht besser gemacht, was können wir für uns nutzen?" In his view, there should be regular meetings between the head coach and the Bundesliga coaches, "um eine moderne Analyse des internationalen Fußballs zu machen." Foreign national team coaches should also be invited to these.

Criticism of the Association's Leadership

Dietmar Hamann also voiced criticism. "Sky" pundit Dietmar Hamann named President Bernd Neuendorf and managing director Andreas Rettig specifically, whose decisions need to be questioned. "Man muss auch mal die Führung des DFB infrage stellen," Hamann said, adding that he particularly dislikes the contract of the heavily criticized head coach Julian Nagelsmann running until Euro 2028. "Ich glaube, es ist an