ruth901
Insensitive choice of socksA little more sensitivity please, Mr. Nagelsmann!
Was HE freaked out?
The squad is set, Julian Nagelsmann (38) has officially announced his squad for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada. Manuel Neuer (40) will be number 1 in goal at the tournament, Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann (35), who has mostly been in the DFB goal recently, will initially be on the bench as a 1B solution. After the announcement, the focus is not only on the squad, but also on a visual detail of the national coach – and that has at least a little flavor. A comment.
Julian Nagelsmann wears socks given to him by Oliver Baumann
Anyone who took a full-body look at the national coach when the squad was announced for the 2026 World Cup on Thursday afternoon would end up at his feet. As almost always, eye-catching socks peek out from under his trousers.
This time: Dark blue, patterned with red candy canes. So far so good. If it weren't for the socks that Oliver Baumann, of all people, once gave him. Sky reporter Patrick Berger speaks directly to the national coach about it. Nagelsmann explains where the eye-catching accessory comes from. The socks ARE Oliver Baumann's gift.
Reading tip: Our boys for the USA! This is Julian Nagelsmann's World Cup squad
Background: In 2019, Baumann gave Nagelsmann an eight-pack of socks with motifs when he said goodbye to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. But it wasn't until five years later that Nagelsmann unpacked it. Seven years later, on the DAY of the announcement, he wore this pair and explained: “These are actually them. I actually thought they were heart socks. But now they are candy canes. They are actually Olli's socks. That's not why I wore them.”
Oliver Baumann has to make way for Manuel Neuer on the bench at the World Cup.
Imago/Passion2Press
One thing in advance! The national coach certainly didn't put his socks on on purpose just for the announcement. Nevertheless, the action seems careless and, in this situation, somewhat insensitive. Communication scientist Michael Schaffrath from the Technical University of Munich comes to the same assessment. Schaffrath, who followed the press conference at midday with great interest, said to RTL.de: “The action was very thoughtless and not very sensitive. My first thought was even: the socks have the symbol of the doormat.”
For Baumann, the fact may have – at least – a bitter aftertaste. Because: with his socks, his former club – and now national coach – announces in a good mood that Manuel Neuer (40) and not HE will be between the posts at the World Cup.
Prof. Dr. Michael Schaffrath from the Technical University of Munich
Private
Reading tip: Nagelsmann defends Sané: “He has something very special”
To be honest: If I were Oliver Baumann, I would have felt a mixture of anger and pain at today's press conference and perhaps also felt a bit embarrassed. In addition, after the awkward communication in dealing with Deniz Undav, now Neuer and Baumann, the action is part of the unfortunate chain of communication.
Manuel Neuer is once again number 1 in goal at the World Cup.
Imago/Laci Perenyi
However, it is positive that Nagelsmann at least admits to some communication errors. Although he is “fine” with communication over long stretches, “you can always do things differently and better,” he clarifies. And he also explained the squad that Nagelsmann had put together in a very understandable way, and he had very good words for Baumann.
Surprises in the squad for the 2026 World Cup
While the Republic is talking about Nagelsmann's communication, it must also be noted that the decision to bring Neuer back as number 1 is definitely the right one. The decision to do without Niclas Füllkrug or Tim Kleindienst is also understandable. However, it is with some surprise that Cologne's Said El Mala (18) was not nominated. The youngster from 1. FC Cologne scored 18 points in his first Bundesliga season. At the same time, the appointments of Maximilian Beier (23/Borussia Dortmund) and Lennart Karl (18/Bayern Munich) are very understandable.
One can only hope that this team and this coach will give us a great summer in the end and maybe even knock our socks off a bit…
