Almost three months before the European Championships, sports director Rudi Völler talks about the unusual DFB squad, his high opinion of coach Julian Nagelsmann, his own future, the importance of “German virtues” – and about what he thinks of the pink and purple jersey.
On Saturday evening (9 p.m.) the German national team will play against France in Lyon, and next Tuesday in Frankfurt against the Netherlands – two games that could be decisive for the European Championship mood in the country. Just before the duels with these two heavyweights, national coach Julian Nagelsmann nominated an almost experimental squad. There are six newcomers, established players like Leon Goretzka and Mats Hummels are missing. So the situation should be tense at the German Football Association. But Rudi Völler, the association’s sports director for a year, seems confident, almost optimistic. He welcomes everyone in the sunshine in the DFB’s new purple and black tracksuit.