Overview
- While working as a Magenta TV pundit in the pre-match build-up, Jürgen Klopp said “luckily, Julian Nagelsmann is picking the team, still,” and also suggested Jamal Musiala be rested in favour of Deniz Undav.
- The single word “still” was widely read in Germany as implying Nagelsmann’s tenure was fragile and prompted journalists to put Klopp’s remark to the coach at a press conference.
- Following Germany’s 7-1 win over Curaçao, Klopp made an on-air apology during a pitchside interview and Nagelsmann appeared to accept it with laughter and high-fives.
- Senior figures such as Lothar Matthäus said the apology was only the minimum and warned that pundit interventions can add pressure on a coach during a major tournament.
- The episode has largely been contained and attention has shifted back to Germany’s campaign with matches against Ivory Coast on June 20 and Ecuador five days later set to provide sterner tests.