Overview

• In a t-online column published on September 24 and distributed by dpa, Stefan Effenberg calls the German basketball team a template for the national football side.
• He cites Dennis Schröder and Franz Wagner as examples of a group that succeeded through talent, understanding of roles, joy in play and shared emotion.
• Effenberg argues that restrictive tactical guidance from youth development has reached the senior team and stifled its collective expression.
• Referencing the 0–2 loss in Slovakia and the 3–1 win over Northern Ireland, he says Germany showed little desire to play and lacked freedom.
• He deems Julian Nagelsmann’s stated objective of winning the World Cup unrealistic and advises setting less aggressive targets.