Julian Nagelsmann enters this World Cup in a completely different environment to Germany's home Euros two years ago. The shine around the 38-year-old head coach has faded somewhat as his communication skills have been called into question.
Most of the concern is focused on his dramatic recalling of retired goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to the Germany squad just weeks before the start of the tournament despite having spent a year reinforcing Oliver Baumann as the number one. In March, he also delivered very public criticism of striker Deniz Undav, saying the player had played poorly after a game in which Undav had scored the winner. He later, after revealing he had spoken to his wife on the matter, apologized for his comments, saying he had got it wrong. For a coach whose early rise was built off of a strong psychological antenna and one who has been keen to develop the strength of the group, the months leading up to the World Cup have been far from ideal.
"Please understand that not every detail of my conversations with the players can be made public," said Nagelsmann during Germany's squad announcement last month. "I try to explain things thoroughly and keep people informed. Sometimes I’m not as successful as I’d like to be, and sometimes I am."
