Uli Hoeneß delivers World Cup warning to Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann

TL;DR

Uli Hoeneß warns Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann that the national team lacks a consistent lineup and cannot be considered World Cup favorites. He emphasizes the need for a clear team structure ahead of the tournament.

Key points

Uli Hoeneß questions Germany's World Cup readiness
Nagelsmann criticized for inconsistent lineups
Concerns about team structure and key player positions

Mentioned in this story

GermanyBayern MunichUli HoeneßJulian Nagelsmann

STUTTGART, GERMANY - MARCH 30: Head coach Julian Nagelsmann of Germany looks on during the international friendly match between Germany and Ghana at MHP Arena on March 30, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Mika Volkmann/Getty Images) | Getty Images Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeneß is a master of blunt statements. And his assessment of the German men’s national team ahead of this summer’s World Cup is unsparing. In Hoeneß’ view, the Germans cannot be considered among the tournament favorites. “I can’t say that at all,” Hoeneß declared in recent comments captured by @iMiaSanMia. “Because the German team has never played with the same eleven in two consecutive matches. “And that’s something I hold against [head coach] Julian [Nagelsmann] — I’ve already told him personally. If you go to a World Cup and don’t have a truly world-class team, which in my opinion we don’t have at the moment, then — as Vincent has demonstrated — you can only be successful through the team, through the team structure. “But currently, I don’t see a clear lineup at either end of the pitch. Who is our striker? Who plays in goal? Who is the right-back, who the left? And if things continue like this, we’ll end up fielding a team for our first World Cup match that has never played together before. And that doesn’t work.” It has been a strange road for Germany since the home-turf EUROs of 2024. Of course, things can always come together fast, but it is just about the cusp of the tournament now…and where Germany stands is unclear. Can Nagelsmann figure it out in time? It appears that in Hoeneß’ opinion, the national team coach needs to start taking some outside advice. *If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on , , , or any leading podcast distributor…*

Q&A

What did Uli Hoeneß say about Germany's chances in the World Cup?

Uli Hoeneß stated that Germany cannot be considered among the World Cup favorites due to a lack of a consistent lineup and world-class players.

Why does Hoeneß criticize Julian Nagelsmann's coaching?

Hoeneß criticizes Nagelsmann for not fielding the same eleven players in consecutive matches, which he believes undermines the team's chances of success.

What concerns does Hoeneß have about Germany's team structure?

Hoeneß is concerned that Germany lacks a clear lineup and key positions, such as striker and goalkeeper, which could hinder their performance in the World Cup.