National team
Sweet temptation for Nagelsmann and preparation for Hungary
National coach Julian Nagelsmann prepares his team for the Hungary match. Photo
© Tom Weller/dpa
The kickstart was successful. Germany celebrates its fun footballers. Now the plan is underway for the second European Championship party with Wirtz and Musiala. The national coach eats ice cream and conjures up flow and community.
Active relaxation, a bit of distraction, then the focus was put back on the next tournament test after the 5:1 roar against Scotland with the party footballers Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz. The Hungarians are waiting. And the quickly ecstatic football nation longs for the continuation of the long-missed collective feeling of happiness.
First speech for Hungary duel
So today the black, red and gold party footballers had to say goodbye to their families at the home ground, then undergo a medical and fitness check, do some athletic training and give a speech from Nagelsmann to get them ready for the second group match on Wednesday (6 p.m./ARD/MagentaTV). In the best case scenario, they will be in the round of 16 that same evening. They will have secured their place in the knockout round after two of three group matches – the last time this happened was at the World Cup summer fairytale 18 years ago.
Rudi Völler and Thomas Müller in particular wanted to ensure that the second test, which has often failed at major tournaments, did not go wrong and that the football summer feeling that had just begun in Stuttgart did not disappear again.
Parallels to the World Cup victory
Of course, Müller was delighted with the goal fest against Scotland. But the Munich tournament veteran threw in a few words of warning. “This emotional babble is always nice to read, but nobody carries you through the tournament. You have to win the games. The points are therefore crucial,” said Müller. The 34-year-old recalled the 2014 World Cup triumph, when after a 2-2 draw against Ghana, a place in the knockout round was at stake despite the dream start against Portugal (4-0).
Only the DFB team’s sporting director Rudi Völler has more tournament experience than Müller. “Of course we and many others have seen that we haven’t forgotten how to play good football,” said the 64-year-old. But: “We can also assess such a big win well.” Fans can celebrate wildly at public viewings and in beer gardens across the country. Work is now back on the home ground.
Nagelsmann loves the flow
Nagelsmann understands the balancing act. With the cautious Völler at his side, he can live out his nature. And there is no room for historical or artificially constructed concerns. Letting things flow is his motto, both literally and figuratively. “Flow” is a word that comes up again and again. But the word that Nagelsmann used the most was community. “The community won the game. The community ensured that football Germany perhaps believes in us a little more,” he stressed.
After the Munich football gala, one thing was indisputable: Nagelsmann himself is a big winner. His radical reorientation in the European Championship year has paid off. The restructuring of the squad, the clear distribution of roles in the team, the early decision on a dream eleven and especially the return of Toni Kroos have made a big difference. “As head coach, you have to give energy. And the team gives me a lot of energy back,” said Nagelsmann after his most important victory to date.
Eight years without a win against Hungary
The continuation is desired. But Hungary is a weakened opponent after its own 1:3 defeat against Switzerland in the opening round of the European Championship. It is practically a game of all or nothing. The painful 0:1 defeat in Leipzig almost two years ago is still in our minds, when the subsequent World Cup disaster in Qatar could have been foreshadowed. The last victory against the robust Magyars was eight years ago.
Nagelsmann only needs to continue his strategy against Hungary. There is no reason for any personnel changes. Unless Ilkay Gündogan’s injured foot after the Scottish red card foul gives cause for greater concern, which would be bitter. The national coach was particularly pleased for the often-criticized captain. He finally showed his world-class format from many years at the club in the national jersey. “I’m glad that I was able to make the team better for the guys next to me,” said the 33-year-old after his performance and character statement in Munich.
Late riser Wirtz
Gündogan’s game management also made the first-time goalscorers Wirtz and Musiala even better. “Two devils on the loose in Munich,” the Spanish newspaper “As” reverently called the two 21-year-olds. Wirtz admitted in a humorous social media video from the DFB with Musiala that he was extremely tired. Eating breakfast at 10 a.m. was much too early for him after a short night of games. Musiala had not been able to sleep during the night and had watched the series “Games of Thrones.”
The European Championship throne. That is no longer an unrealistic goal. The long-critical experts in the country and international observers agree on that. All doubts have been blown away. From Chancellor Olaf Scholz to title rival Cristiano Ronaldo as a TV viewer – everyone was excited or impressed by the German goal-scoring whirlwind.
“After the opening, I think we can really hope that it will go all the way to the end and I’m very confident about that,” said Chancellor Scholz on ZDF before leaving the G7 summit in Bari, Italy. “Germany, what a machine!” wrote the Spanish newspaper “Marca”. The English “Daily Star” called Nagelsmann’s eleven a “five-star Germany” in reference to the handful of goals. This impression must be confirmed against Hungary – and in five more European Championship games if possible.