National team
Groß, Sané, Füllkrug, Müller, Can: Nagelsmann’s Joker ranking
Against Scotland, Julian Nagelsmann’s order of substitutions also revealed the ranking of the players behind the first eleven. Photo
© Christian Charisius/dpa
The national coach is also relying on energy from the bench. Substitutes are important in a tournament. The goal-fest opening match against Scotland will show who is at the forefront behind the first eleven.
The energy from the bench is also important at the home European Championship. In any case, Since the start of preparations, Julian Nagelsmann has been emphasizing the importance of those national soccer players who are only substitutes at the start of the matches for the tournament’s success. “The boys are doing their job,” said the national coach.
That was the case in the 5-1 start against Scotland. Nagelsmann even substituted two goalscorers in Munich. “There is a very good energy in the team. We want to be successful, regardless of whether we are on the pitch or not,” said Dortmund’s Emre Can, who was nominated later, to the bench. Against Scotland, the order of substitutions also revealed the ranking of the players behind the first eleven.
The first challengers
Pascal Groß: The 33-year-old tournament debutant was the first to be brought on by Nagelsmann against the Scots. The Brighton professional came on at half-time for the cautioned Robert Andrich. The Leverkusen player is the man for the rough stuff in midfield. The 29-year-old was also very physically determined against the Scots. If Andrich were to see his second yellow card against the Hungarians on Wednesday (6 p.m./ARD and MagentaTV), he would be suspended for the last group game against Switzerland. And Groß would be the logical replacement.
Niclas Füllkrug: The Dortmund player is Nagelsmann’s number one attacking joker. The 31-year-old scored just five minutes after coming on for Kai Havertz, who is the first choice in the number nine position. Füllkrug can point to “many good joker appearances” in the national jersey. And to a top rate of twelve goals in 17 international matches. He also says: “It was rare that the team that played the first tournament game also played the last one.”
Leroy Sané: A healthy Leroy Sané would always be a candidate for the starting eleven. But in addition to the long-term pubic bone problem, there was a three-game suspension, which further slowed the Bayern professional down in the European Championship year. The 28-year-old came on for Wirtz in the 63rd minute against the Scots. He didn’t manage to do anything spectacular. Sané will have to continue to line up behind the attacking quartet of Wirtz, Musiala, Havertz and Gündogan, who were convincing in the opening game.
Thomas Müller: At his fourth European Championship, the tournament veteran will have to get used to shorter playing times. “The role that Thomas has is clear,” said Nagelsmann. The 34-year-old from Munich is important for the atmosphere in the team. “We want to see joy at this huge football festival,” said Müller. He lives that. Against the Scots, he had to wait until the 73rd minute for his 130th international match. He came on for his outstanding Bayern colleague Jamal Musiala and immediately had a few good offensive moves.
Emre Can: He was surprised that the Dortmund player, who was nominated to replace Bayern youngster Aleksandar Pavlovic, was used in the first game of the tournament. Even the substitution for Toni Kroos in the 80th minute was “crazy”. And then the 30-year-old scored the final goal in injury time. “A crazy story,” is what the defender, who had joined the team from vacation, called it.
The substitutes in waiting
16 of the 26 players in the DFB squad were used straight away. Since Nagelsmann can make five substitutions per game, the prospects of joker minutes are good, especially for offensive players such as Stuttgart’s Chris Führich and Deniz Undav and Hoffenheim’s Maximlian Beier. In defence, however, coaches often only make substitutions in an emergency during a tournament. This is especially true for the goalkeeper position. Marc-André ter Stegen and Oliver Baumann must get used to only being able to watch Manuel Neuer.