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National coach Joachim Loew with Timo Werner in the game against France
Photo:
Christian Charisius / dpa
The German national team had certainly imagined the start of the European Championship differently.
Nevertheless, anything is still possible for the DFB team after the 1-0 defeat against France.
In the remaining group matches against Portugal and Hungary there are still several options for a place in the round of 16.
Even with a defeat against the Portuguese by superstar Cristiano Ronaldo on Saturday (6 p.m., live ticker SPIEGEL.de), progress is still possible.
This is made possible by the tournament mode, which also allows four of the six thirds in the group to move into the knockout round.
These are the scenarios:
With a win against Portugal
the German team could at least reach second place on their own, arithmetically it would even be possible to win the group.
If there is a draw against Portugal, it gets tighter. Only a big win against Hungary next Wednesday (9 p.m., live ticker SPIEGEL.de) would make second place possible. For a round of 16 ticket as a third party in the group, a success against Hungary would also have to be achieved. Because: As a third person, two points should hardly be enough for the knockout round. The outcome of the game between France and Hungary would then also be important for the arithmetic games.
If you lose against Portugal, the pressure increases enormously.
If France draws at least one draw against Hungary in the afternoon, first and second places would be unattainable.
There would only be a chance to advance to third in the group by beating Hungary.
The end could then be sealed by results in other groups up to the last matchday on Wednesday.
Or the calculator has to be ready for the game against Hungary.
So the game on Saturday is not yet decisive, but it sets the course if the DFB team does not want to leave the tournament after the preliminary round, unlike three years ago at the World Cup.
Game schedule?
Stages?
Results?
Here you will find
everything you
need to know about the tournament
The next opponent could serve as a model for the team of national coach Joachim Löw: Portugal reached the European Championship 2016 with only three points as group third in the round of 16 - and later became European champions.
ara / dpa