Germany Coach Condemns "Racist" Survey on National Soccer Team Composition

Germany's national soccer coach, Julian Nagelsmann, expressed his shock and dismay over a recent public broadcaster survey asking participants if they preferred more white players in the national team.

Nagelsmann echoed midfielder Joshua Kimmich's condemnation of the survey, calling it "absolutely racist" and "madness for a public broadcaster to ask such a question."

The survey, conducted by German state broadcaster ARD, included 1,304 randomly selected participants, revealing that 21% would prefer if more players with white skin represented Germany.

At the team's training camp for the upcoming European Championship, Nagelsmann commented, "I thought about it briefly and I have the feeling that we need to wake up a bit. There are people in Europe who've had to flee because of war, economic factors, environmental disasters, people who simply want to be taken in.

"We have to ask what are we doing at the moment? We in Germany are doing very, very well, and when we say something like that, I think it's crazy how we turn a blind eye and simply block out such things."

Nagelsmann supported Kimmich's view that a soccer team can serve as a role model, demonstrating how people from different cultures, religious backgrounds, and skin colors can unite to achieve significant goals.

He added, "I always find it bizarre that we all go on vacation to get to know other cultures and then other cultures come here and we complain about it. It's bizarre. So, I can't go on vacation then; I always have to stay where I am."

Nagelsmann stood firm in his selection of players, including Black players, emphasizing that he wouldn't want to exclude any of them.

"It's good as it is. We're playing a European Championship for everyone in the country. And anyone who can play top football is invited to be a national player and give their all for their country. And that's what we're doing. And I hope I never have to read about such a (expletive) survey again."

Germany's national team faces Ukraine on Monday in their first warmup game for Euro 2024, followed by a friendly against Greece on Friday in Mönchengladbach.

The host nation will kick off the tournament against Scotland in Munich on June 14, followed by matches against Hungary in Stuttgart on June 19 and Switzerland in Frankfurt on June 23.