Thomas Müller calls for German football reforms; Nagelsmann to step down

Julian Nagelsmann will resign as national coach after the World Cup exit. Jürgen Klopp is considered a top candidate to succeed him, but his contract with Red Bull makes a change difficult. Thomas Helmer comments on current developments.

Thomas Müller has expressed shock over Germany's World Cup debacle and, after some distance, has outlined his thoughts and approaches for the future. The 2014 world champion has described the current state of German football in blunt terms.

Following the national team's disappointing World Cup performance, Müller is calling for far-reaching reforms within the German Football Association (DFB).

"It is time to get to work," wrote Müller in a post on LinkedIn. "After five disappointing tournaments in a row, a concept with new, in-depth food for thought is needed. We need a consistent and modern player education that reflects the future playing philosophy."

Previously, Oliver Kahn and Bastian Schweinsteiger had shifted the focus away from personnel discussions and initiated a debate about the virtues and responsibilities of footballers.

It has been officially confirmed since Friday afternoon that Julian Nagelsmann's tenure as national coach is over. His successor is likely to be Jürgen Klopp, whom the DFB intends to approach for talks, according to the association's statement.

Müller Avoids Personnel Commentary

Müller did not specifically address the personnel issues surrounding Nagelsmann and Klopp in his post.

"We need a sense of responsibility, expertise, and also the courage to initiate the necessary changes in order to dance on the stage of the big football world again until the end in the future," wrote the 36-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps professional.

"When the 'German engine' isn't running smoothly..."

After the 3–4 penalty shootout loss to Paraguay in the Round of 32, "the shock was written all over my face," Müller wrote. "When the German engine as a team isn't running smoothly, we simply lack the individual world-class quality to compensate for it."

He listed top players from other nations who make the difference, including Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, and Lionel Messi.

"Does everyone have the honest awareness that the world's elite has left us behind?" asked the former FC Bayern offensive star.

Müller's conclusion, "with some distance" as he wrote: "We want to, but we can't."

As in 2018 and 2022, the DFB team missed the World Cup Round of 16 at the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The European Championship tournaments in 2024 (quarterfinals) and 2021 (Round of 16) also ended prematurely.

— dpa/SUF