National team
Opening in Lyon: Nagelsmann completes European Championship tests
What’s in it for the DFB team with national coach Julian Nagelsmann at the home European Championships in 2024? photo
© Christian Charisius/dpa
This is a crisp start to the European Championship year: in France and against Holland. With these tests, national coach Nagelsmann wants to reverse the trend. Two more opponents are still being sought.
The national soccer team starts the home European Championship year on March 23rd (9 p.m.) in Lyon against runner-up world champion France. On March 26th (8:45 p.m.) there will be a no less explosive classic against Oranje in Frankfurt/Main. This was confirmed by the German Football Association. It is still unclear where Nagelsmann and his European Championship candidates will prepare for the games. The DFB team last trained at the association campus in Frankfurt.
“Two traditional duels”
“Two traditional duels against major football nations are the perfect start to the European Championship year. France is one of the top favorites for the title, and the Netherlands are also a force to be reckoned with,” said Nagelsmann.
Germany won 2-1 against France in Dortmund shortly after parting ways with national coach Hansi Flick in September under interim coach Rudi Völler. However, the DFB does not have any good memories of Lyon as a venue. At the 1998 World Cup there was a bitter end with a 3-0 defeat against Croatia in the quarter-finals. The DFB selection last played 1-1 against Holland in a test match in Amsterdam in March 2022.
Drastic measures announced
After the disappointing performances against Turkey (2:3) and in Austria (0:2), Nagelsmann announced drastic measures to prepare for the European Championship. “I am sure that we sold ourselves short last year, which we were all unhappy with. We have a lot of work to do to be optimally prepared for the first international matches of the year and, above all, the tournament “There’s still a long way to go, but we’re excited and really looking forward to these challenges,” said the national coach.
Further decisions are expected before Christmas. We are still looking for two test opponents for the beginning of June. These should be similar to the style of play of the EM group opponents. Germany opens the European Championship on June 14th in Munich against Scotland, followed by games against Hungary on June 19th in Stuttgart and on June 23rd in Frankfurt against Switzerland.
The final preparation for the tournament will take place after the end of the Bundesliga season at the end of May and beginning of June. Donaueschingen and a golf hotel near Weimar, where the English are staying during the European Championships, were recently mentioned as possible locations. The DFB has not yet commented on the subject of training camps. However, the option of completing the preparation in the EM quarters in Herzogenaurach is probably off the table.