Another perfect summer or another national shame.
Nobody knows what to expect from this Germany before the European Championship at home.
The optimists highlight the opportunity to throw a party for a month that resembles what made the country vibrate as host of the 2026 World Cup. The pessimists point to the three fiascos in the last three major tournaments and that caused the disenchantment of the fans Germans towards the men’s team.
But there are recent positive signs. Germany scored notable friendly victories against France and the Netherlands in March after coach Julian Nagelsmann made a radical change to the squad.
If the team can maintain that line in the group stage, Germany could enjoy another party.
“If we start well, Germany could experience the enthusiasm and energy of 2006,” said Philipp Lahm, the former captain of the team who is now director of Euro 2024.
Many Germans remember that summer of 2006 fondly and there are some parallels between both tournaments.
At that time, German coach Jürgen Klinsmann was criticized in the run-up because the team was conceding too many goals and was coming off an embarrassing elimination in the group stage of Euro 2004. Klinsmann relied on the young players, but the feelings were negative. before the World Cup.
But after achieving three victories in the group stage, the host nation began to celebrate.
It was the first time that a reunified Germany had hosted the tournament and for many Germans it was the opportunity to fly their flag and show their national pride.
Plus, the weather was perfect, the beer kept flowing, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Although they were eliminated by Italy in the semifinals, the Germans still refer to the 2006 World Cup as the “Sommermärchen” — the dream summer.
The lead-up to this summer’s tournament is something similar. Germany had been playing so poorly that they decided to fire coach Hansi Flick in September. Nagelsmann started with problems, but he threw caution to the wind by not calling up established players like Leon Goretzka and Mats Hummels and put his trust in others with a good present with their clubs.
Nagelsmann also convinced Toni Kroos, the Real Madrid star, to return to the national team. But at that moment he did not know that this would be the midfielder’s farewell. Kroos, 34, has since announced that he will retire after the tournament.
Luck will depend a lot on the performance of Kroos, who is gifted with exceptional precision to put the ball where he wants.
Kroos is one of the few surviving players from the team that won the 2014 World Cup, and capping his career with a European title would really be perfect.
“You don’t have to prove anything to anyone,” Nagelsmann said. “But he still has one more tournament and he is excited. He can win another title. With that I would have everything. “It would be an incredible story.”
Nagelsmann’s changes paid off in victories against France and the Netherlands.
The old doubts were left behind and confidence returned. Retired star Lothar Matthäus has stated that Germany has to make every effort to devote itself to its Euro.
Unlike many previous German teams, this one will not depend on Bayern Munich.
It seems that the change of power will be reflected in the national team after Bayer Leverkusen ended Bayern’s supremacy in the Bundesliga.
The only Bayern players who have remained since March are Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich, in addition to the immovable goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Everything indicates that Leverkusen will have three players in Nagelsmann’s starting line-up with Jonathan Tah at the back, Robert Andrich in midfield and Florian Wirtz in attack. Stuttgart will be represented by Maximilian Mittelstädt at left back and Arsenal’s Kai Havertz will surely be an option up front.
The locals begin the tournament against Scotland on June 14 in Munich. Hungary and Switzerland complete their group.
