Mar 15, 2026
3 min read
The defeat against FC Porto really reflects the current state of VfB Stuttgart's development.
It all started at this stadium.At the soccer match in Stuttgart, Spanish left-back Marc Cucurella began his career as an enemy for illegally using his hands in the quarter-finals of the Euro 2024 or because - that would be another opinion - hanging in the field in a way that maybe he shouldn't.Since then, Cucurella has been treated in the German stadium in a way that even Abroad Shame has now become boring;Cucurella whistles the way the sun rises in the morning.
However, it is difficult to assess whether it was a relief for Cucurella or a threat to the unique selling point of the deputy suddenly appearing in the same position.Zaidu, the 28-year-old FC Porto left-back (!), became unpopular with the Stuttgart fans on Thursday night, despite having to marvel at the miracle on the pitch in the Europa League round of 16 first leg.Zaidu was caught motionless on the ground "like 37 times", as Stuttgart's Deniz Undav said later, but each time was followed by a spectacular resurrection, allowing Zaidu to immediately return to the next fight.
Europa League round of 16: VfB lost to Porto, Freiburg lost to Genk
It will be tough for the Swabians to reach their first European Cup quarterfinals since 1998. SC Freiburg also suffered defeat.In the Conference League, Mainz had a 0-0 draw against Sigma Olomouc.
Nicht von Undav und auch sonst von niemandem ermittelt wurde leider die Nettospielzeit dieser Partie. Aber hätte man all die Fake-Verletzungen, Ballwegwerf-Aktionen, Hans-guck-in-die-Luft-Verzögerungen und sonstige von Schiedsrichter Rumsas (Litauen) kaum geahndeten Kunstpausen zu einer angemessenen Nachspielzeit addiert, hätte die Austragung der Partie zwischen dem VfB Stuttgart und dem FC Porto möglicherweise den pünktlichen Beginn der Weltmeisterschaft im Juni gefährdet.
The Stuttgart team doesn't really know whether to be more objective or more aggressive after the 2-1 defeat, but they finally decided on the composition.we go first to Leipzig on Sunday and then next Thursday to Porto.''
And when the coach, a generally positively reflective Sebastian Hoenes, concluded later, he made it clear that there was a second period, saying, “Think after the first game."It's not over yet," Hoenes said, "we showed tonight that we can really hurt them."That was true, but in the end the pain was so intense that not only left-back Zaidoo, but also his teammates seemed relatively pain-free during and after the match.
Stuttgart not ready for World Cup midfield
In all its intensity, this game tells a clear factual and technical story about the current VfB Stuttgart.Finally, some more conclusions can be drawn from the recent public interview of national coach Julian Nagelsmann with Kicker.Since Hoeneß took over, a neutral section of the industry has discovered VfB as a secret favorite, and Nagelsmann has recently been surprised by how VfB players have been treated and commented on.Smart Undav from Nine National Numbers No?Shouldn't the DFB midfield be entrusted to the confident Angelo Stiller, whose style of play is close to the great Toni Kroos?Wouldn't Jamie Leveling, brutally quick with his muscular game, be an ideal choice for either the right-back or left-back role?Even Stuttgart's defensive boss Jeff Chabot couldn't...?
The Julian Nagelsmann interview: The opposite of Kompany
Baumann in goal, Kimmich at right back and Goretzka in the middle: three months before the World Cup, the national coach Julian Nagelsmann has to make some public decisions.Ultimately, it will be an interesting personal and collective critique of his team.
It would be really unfair to use this match in the European Cup against the candidate DFB Stuttgart.But if you look at the pictures of the two goals conceded, you will first recognize Alexander Nübel's somewhat restless shot, which Undav jumped towards instead of jumping - which FC Porto mercilessly used to counter and make it 1-0 through striker Terem Moffi (21st).Chabot's poor passing in the substitution match was also hard to miss, FC Porto used mercilessly to counter and made it 2-0 through midfielder Rodrigo Mora (27').Along with some sloppiness earlier, this resulted in those "annoying eight minutes" (Hoeneß) that ruined the result for the otherwise competitive VfB despite Undav Undav's typical goal (40th) - thus supporting Nagelsmann's perspective.
VfB have already come a long way from a wobbly candidate to a European Cup holder, and Hoeneß's coaching skills and sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth's squad composition have produced plenty of players who are sure to have a good hand in a tournament squad.But Stuttgart's squad - see Porto - is not in a position to give them major roles at a World Cup.
On the plain where Hoeneß led VfB from the bottom of the valley, the view of Europe was beautiful but the air was thin.The reason that is emerging this season in the Europa League is clear: wherever this new VfB visits the country, it leaves surprised observers who appreciate and praise the way the team plays and the reason.However, Stuttgart will reach its limit if it is Fenerbahce Istanbul (0:1), AS Roma (0:2) or FC Porto (1:2) - difficult teams with a one-goal lead and it has a great advantage over the years of service at this level and this work can be seen with a smart game.For VfB, this European competition has been a beautiful and painful learning journey - the next stop is next Friday at the Estadio do Dragão in Porto.
