As of: March 15, 2024, 9:00 a.m
By: Alexander Kaindl
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Germany is preparing for the European Football Championship.
National coach Julian Nagelsmann and his most recent nomination give an idea of what starting eleven he is planning.
Frankfurt – A magical brand was recently cracked.
It was March 6th when the countdown to the European Football Championship in Germany was exactly 100 days.
A week later, national coach Julian Nagelsmann nominated his squad for the upcoming international matches against France (March 23) and the Netherlands (March 26).
Nagelsmann calls up the DFB squad for two international matches: established national players are missing
It is more than just a pointer for the European Championship.
Nagelsmann made it clear to the PK that only performance counts - no consideration of previous service.
He called up six newcomers, but not a number of established national players.
The Dortmund team around Mats Hummels, Emre Can, Niklas Süle, Nico Schlotterbeck and Julian Brandt are just as worried about participating in the European Championship as Bayern stars Leon Goretzka and Serge Gnabry or Leipzig's Tottenham loanee Timo Werner.
Because Nagelsmann already revealed between the lines who he would be betting on at the European Championships.
The framework for his Euro starting eleven has long been in place.
National coach Julian Nagelsmann already has his European Championship starting eleven in mind.
© Eibner / Imago
Nagelsmann's European Championship team: With Neuer, Rüdiger, Tah and Kimmich on the defensive
Goal:
After a 15-month break, Manuel Neuer returns to the DFB team.
Nagelsmann left it open as to whether the Bayern captain would also be between the posts for the two upcoming international matches.
But anyone who listened carefully when the national coach spoke about the “intelligent” deputy Marc-André ter Stegen and said that he already knew what to expect could guess: Neuer will be in goal - and of course also at the European Championships.
Defense:
The experiments with Niklas Süle, Nico Schlotterbeck and Kai Havertz on the left are history.
Nagelsmann has chosen Antonio Rüdiger and Antonio Tah as the undisputed central defenders.
He sees newcomer Waldemar Anton and returnee Robin Koch as “backups” for the established duo.
According to Nagelsmann's announcement, Joshua Kimmich will move from midfield to the right side of defense - similar to what he did at FC Bayern.
VfB newcomer Maximilian Mittelstädt can prove himself on the left.
David Raum and the actual right-back Benjamin Henrichs are two other candidates for this position - it is the first of three Nagelsmann unknowns.
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Nagelsmann midfield at the European Championships: Kroos, Gündogan and the prodigies
Midfield:
Toni Kroos is back in defensive midfield – not as “the sole savior”, as Nagelsmann emphasized, but also not as the ridiculed “cross-passing Toni”.
According to the national coach, anyone who still claims that “has no idea about football”.
The second open question remains who will take on the second defensive role alongside the 2014 world champion.
Pascal Groß, Robert Andrich and newcomer Aleksandar Pavlovic have the opportunity to prove themselves.
When it comes to the European Championship, Leon Goretzka will probably also play a role.
According to Nagelsmann, Ilkay Gündogan remains captain in the attacking midfield and will move up to one of the “three ten positions”.
The playmaker is supported by Germany's prodigies: Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz.
If Leroy Sané, who was suspended this time, is back in top form by the European Championships, he would be an alternative for Musiala or Wirtz.
Germany's European Championship starting eleven: Nagelsmann has already filled eight positions
Attack:
The third open position in Nagelsmann's European Championship starting eleven is in the attack.
Who moves to the nine position?
The favorite at the moment is Niclas Füllkrug as he scores regularly for the DFB.
Kevin Behrens and Marvin Ducksch have not been able to prove themselves sustainably recently.
This time, Nagelsmann has nominated two more in-form newcomers, Deniz Undav and Maximilian Beier, who could challenge Füllkrug's place.
Kai Havertz also remains an alternative, given his current strong performances at Arsenal.
As with FC Bayern, veteran Thomas Müller only has the joker role.
Whoever ultimately jumps on the European Championship bandwagon will also wear the new Germany jersey - national coach Nagelsmann liked the outfit.
Germany's expected European Championship starting eleven: Neuer - Kimmich, Rüdiger, Tah,
Mittelstädt/Raum/Henrichs
- Kroos,
Groß/Andrich/Pavlovic/Goretzka
- Musiala, Gündogan, Wirtz -
Füllkrug/Undav/Havertz
.
(akl)