Nagelsmann’s stubbornness—Sane keeps his place in the starting XI, is it a blessing or a curse?

German head coach Julian Nagelsmann made a controversial call at the pre-match press conference—Sane continues to start.

How has Sane performed in the first half? The whole match saw 3 shots and 0 on target, and he also wasted a one-on-one chance. After the game, he was blasted by fans and the media. Many people called for Havertz or Adeyemi to replace him. But Nagelsmann was very firm: “I won’t be swayed by public opinion. There is no reason to take Sane out of the starting XI.”

Nagelsmann’s stubbornness—does it mean stubbornly sticking to his ways, or spotting the right talent?

On the good side, Sane’s pace and ability to break through are indeed one of Germany’s most dangerous weapons on the flanks. Having played against top opposition for so many years with Manchester City and Bayern, he has plenty of experience in big matches. Against a team like Ivory Coast, which plays a defensive counterattacking style, Sane’s individual break-throughs could be the key to cracking a “iron bucket” formation. Also, Nagelsmann doesn’t like constantly shuffling his tactics; he wants the team to maintain a stable rhythm and understanding.

But on the bad side, Sane’s recent efficiency for the national team really hasn’t been high. His final pass and shot selection are often criticized. Against a team as defensively solid as Ivory Coast, wasting chances has to be paid for. Ivory Coast’s counterattacks are extremely fast—if you waste one opportunity, they might score at the other end.

What’s more, Ivory Coast right-back Wilfried Singo is strong in physical duels. If Sane is still in the same first-half form, it’s likely he’ll be kept in check by Singo. Nagelsmann has plenty of other attackers available—Havertz, Adeyemi, Bayer, and more—so he can make adjustments. But he chose to trust Sane.

My own view is: Nagelsmann’s stubbornness could be a double-edged sword. If Sane explodes, Germany’s attack will be very smooth; if Sane continues to underperform, Germany may have to waste a lot of chances in the first half and give Ivory Coast room to counterattack. The course of this match, to a certain extent, depends on Sane’s on-the-day form.

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