November 22 – Next summer’s Euro hosts Germany suffered a second defeat in four days on Tuesday, losing 2-0 to Austria as Julian Nagelsmann’s reign continues to get off to a tough start with less than seven months until the tournament begins.
The latest setback followed last weekend’s 3-2 home defeat to Turkey and Germany’s frustration against the Austrians boiled over in the 49th minute when Leroy Sane was sent off, his first red card in his 402nd game as a professional footballer for club and country.
Germany, eliminated at the group stage at the last World Cup in Qatar, has now won just two of its last 10 games and conceded 22 goals in the process. Nagelsmann was hired in September to replace Hansi Flick and won his first game against the United States the following month, but is now winless in three since.
Austria, by contrast, have now lost only one in 12 games under, ironically, German coach Ralf Rangnick.
“At the end of the day we have to accept that we have a lot of work in front of us,” Nagelsmann said.
“The coaches and players have to accept it and nothing will be easy from now until the summer. The players are maybe playing not as freely as they could.
“We need to accept the situation but we can’t fall into the role of being victims. We are a really well-functioning group at training, but it’s not transferring onto the pitch. We’re missing some self-confidence, which is not a surprise when you see the past few months.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1715965815labto1715965815ofdlr1715965815owedi1715965815sni@w1715965815ahsra1715965815w.wer1715965815dna1715965815