Were Nagelsmann's Ni Comments 'disrespectful' Or 'deflective'?

"Hopefully he gets a lukewarm invited erstwhile he comes to Belfast."

When Julian Nagelsmann vanished his post-match question and reply pursuing Germany's 3-1 triumph complete Northern Ireland, erstwhile defender Stephen Craigan was a small taken aback.

For 68 minutes, Northern Ireland had matched nan European heavyweights successful nan World Cup qualifier and were level arsenic Isaac Price's fantabulous decorativeness from a area cancelled retired Serge Gnabry's early opener.

Germany, who were connected a tally of 3 consecutive defeats, would triumph nan crippled done substitute Nadiem Amiri and a superb Florian Wirtz free-kick, but it was hardly a vintage showing from nan four-time World Cup winners.

So, what did Nagelsmann opportunity that irked Craigan and nan BBC Sport punditry squad successful Cologne?

"It's not easy to take sides a batch of agelong balls and not easy to take sides a batch of 2nd balls, truthful I'm happy pinch nan result," Nagelsmann told BBC Sport NI.

"It's not that easy erstwhile each group portion and shot that's free connected nan transportation they play a agelong shot and onslaught pinch 10 players pinch nan 2nd ball.

"There are ever a batch of players successful our ain reddish zone. It's not superb to watch, this measurement of soccer, but it's effective and it's not that easy to take sides it.

"I deliberation we had 10 aliases 12 group pieces to defend, and we only conceded 1 goal. It's really a spot of nan Northern Ireland team. It's not that easy, we person amended players but it's not that easy to take sides this measurement of playing soccer."

German skipper Joshua Kimmich had besides described Northern Ireland's attack arsenic "a typical style of playing".

Reacting to Nagelmann's comments, Craigan felt "it was a spot disrespectful" from nan German coach.

Craigan, who won 54 caps for NI, was connected co-commentary for nan crippled and had highlighted connected a number of occasions that Germany had been playing agelong balls arsenic they tried to utilization nan abstraction successful down helping backs Conor Bradley and Justin Devenny.

It was a maneuver nan Germans had deployed from nan first whistle, and that is why he took objection to Nagelsmann's comments.

"When he sits down and watches nan crippled back, and I commented a fewer times connected it during nan crippled connected really galore agelong balls they played. Diagonal aliases hopeful balls complete nan top.

"It suited our backmost three, they were much than comfortable. That's each they did really. Their goalkeeper was thumping it guardant and nan number of times he put it consecutive retired of play.

"To opportunity it was Northern Ireland who conscionable played for illustration that, I consciousness that's a spot disrespectful."

Craigan's position was shared by different erstwhile NI world Chris Brunt, who joked, "I'm judge he'll get a bully reception" successful nan reverse fixture astatine Windsor Park successful Belfast adjacent month.

"I didn't realise you had to play bully shot and do what nan different squad wanted you to do," Brunt said.

"I thought we were present to make a crippled of it. That's portion and parcel of who we are and who we've been.

"It shouldn't beryllium thing caller to him and for him to travel retired and opportunity that, it's unusual for me."

Former Northern Ireland world and Leeds United subordinate Stuart Dallas felt they were words of a coach nether pressure.

Germany came into nan crippled disconnected nan backmost of 3 consecutive defeats, including a daze nonaccomplishment successful Slovakia successful Thursday.

While nan 50,000 supporters successful attendance whitethorn person expected a response, particularly erstwhile Gnabry opened nan scoring early on, nan location players were greeted by jeers astatine half-time arsenic nan sides went successful level pinch Northern Ireland much than holding their own.

"It seemed to maine he was deflecting from his ain team's performance," Dallas said.

"That's arsenic mediocre a German squad arsenic I person seen for a agelong time.

"I deliberation he's a small spot nether unit and erstwhile he reflects connected his comments and watches nan crippled back, he mightiness person a different sentiment connected it."

Nagelsmann did admit nan crippled successful Belfast connected 13 October would beryllium much difficult than Cologne.

"It will beryllium tougher than coming because it's not our location game," he added.

"I deliberation their fans will beryllium brilliant. Today we heard nan Northern Ireland fans arsenic well.

"It was large capable and successful Belfast it will beryllium louder. We will person to bring our champion to win."

Windsor Park is ever a cauldron erstwhile a large federation comes to Belfast.

Now, Nagelsmann's comments whitethorn mean nan ambiance could beryllium a fewer decibels higher.