From doubt to hope. In just a few months of work, the coach of the German national team, Julian Nagelsmann, made radical decisions that made the host of Euro 2024 resurrect. On November 21, 2023, at the Ernst-Happel stadium in Vienna, the Germans were defeated by 2-0 by Austria, one of their traditional rivals, less than seven months away from hosting the continent’s best teams for the Euros.
Kroos, the missing piece
It was the end of a year to forget, the German team’s worst season since 1964, with six defeats in 11 friendly matches played – they did not compete in the Euro qualifiers as they were the hosts.
After the dismissal of coach Hansi Flick in September last year, Julian Nagelsmann took over at just 36 years old, initially with a contract until the European Championship, but in April the contract was renewed until the 2026 World Cup. Just before Christmas, in a broadcast on German public television, Nagelsmann announced the radical changes he would implement.
His main move was to convince Toni Kroos, retired from the national team since 2021, to return. The Real Madrid “maestro” accepted the mission and, in May, announced his return to compete in the continental tournament.
Another measure by Nagelsmann was to change the position of Joshua Kimmich, who moved from midfielder to right-back. Furthermore, the coach stopped calling on big names like Mats Hummels and Leon Goretzka to give way to new players.
The turning point was the FIFA date of March, when Nagelsmann formed the basis of the team with key players: goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, defenders Antonio Rüdiger and Jonathan Tah, Ilkay Gündogan as captain in midfield alongside Kroos and the two great hopes of German football, Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz.
In two friendlies against traditional teams, Germany beat France in Lyon (2-0) and beat the Netherlands in Frankfurt (1-0).
Recover motivation
“It was important to give the people the feeling that, after two bad World Cups, we could overcome the difficulties and have a good European Cup. Against France, we played our best football in years. The way we played gave me confidence in our ability to have a good Euro. I’m sure we can go far”, said the German national team’s sporting director, Rudi Völler, in an interview with the Sport-Bild newspaper.
After failing at the World Cup in 2022 (elimination in the group stage), the German team appears to have regained popular support. The team’s first training session for the European Championship brought together 15 thousand spectators.
“The main objective is to create motivation in the country, if possible from the opening game”, highlighted Rüdiger. Germany’s debut will be on June 14th, in Munich, against Scotland.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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