He had “zero percent” hope of taking part in the European Championships, Julian Nagelsmann hadn’t even called to cancel: Emre Can was very disappointed. But then the national coach got in touch – and the replacement delivered.
One day, it will surely be available in book form, a collection of funny stories from national players who talk about their first call from the national coach. They often say that they initially thought the call was a joke. Serge Gnabry thought it was a “joke call from the radio” when Jogi Löw first contacted him. Marcel Halstenberg thought the caller, Löw, was a teammate with a disguised voice. Mark Uth was in the hardware store to get firewood when the phone rang. The conversation upset him so much that he immediately ran to his car and drove away – without any firewood. Or Robin Gosens: He received his call in the car and then spontaneously “honked at everything and everyone”.