Thomas Müller raised his thumb in front of the television with a rascal grin, Mats Hummels immediately posted a picture in the national team jacket. The world champions, sorted out two years ago, reacted with a lot of anticipation and without exhibited satisfaction to Joachim Löw’s role backwards. Together with the 24 other German footballers, including the surprise candidates Kevin Volland and Christian Günter, they want to give the outgoing national coach a golden goodbye at the European championship this summer. “The chance of winning the European Championship is very appealing to me,” said Müller.
Broken upheaval
In 90 minutes plus stoppage time, the aggressive Löw sold his rethinking full of self-confidence. “We said that we would turn everything upside down again, turn every stone over in order to make the best possible decisions and subordinate everything to success,” said Löw at the live presentation of the squad in Frankfurt am Main. »It makes no sense to completely break off a break. But you can interrupt him, “the 61-year-old emphasized:” We lacked stability and experience in some games. Müller and Hummels played a very strong season, they can lead. “
Leadership is urgently needed at the pan-European tournament from June 11 to July 11 after the debacle at the 2018 World Cup and the embarrassing bankruptcies in Spain (0: 6) and against North Macedonia (1: 2). The tournament is “above everything,” said Löw imploringly: “A successful tournament is extremely important for German football and for the entire nation.” 31-year-old Müller and one year older Hummels are also aware of this responsibility. “I’m really up for a new chapter,” wrote Dortmund’s defense chief Hummels on Instagram. If possible, this chapter should not end until the final in the London football temple Wembley. You are not one of the »absolute favorites«, says Löw, but »if we get into a good flow, anything is possible«.
Löw’s surprise men Volland from AS Monaco and Freiburg’s Günter, who made their debut in 2014 against Poland in the national jersey, should also contribute to this. Löw praised Volland’s “strong physique, his assertiveness, his goal danger”. Left-back Günter brings “a lot of energy into the game”. He has “good dynamics”. Striker Volland said he was “extremely happy and grateful,” Günter thanked “Herr Löw” in disbelief. That’s what every child dreams of. But there is not much time for daydreams, the training camp in Seefeld starts on May 28th. 18-year-old Jamal Musiala will also be there. The German record champions Bayern Munich have eight players.
Löw with plan B
Löw renounced Julian Draxler and Julian Brandt. At Draxler, “the disappointment was logically great,” said Löw after a phone call with his captain about the Confed Cup victory in 2017. Marco Reus would have been in the squad, but voluntarily waived due to his injury history. “He frankly told me he had to recover now. But we need energy, everyone has to really start up again. It’s a shame we would have liked to have had him with us, ”said Loew. However, some EM drivers will also be missing at the beginning of the fine-tuning in the training camp. Toni Kroos has Corona. He will “of course be ready for the tournament,” the Real Madrid leader assured. If there are complications, Löw also has “a plan B”. This also applies to Leon Goretzka. The midfielder is currently on pause due to a torn hamstring in his thigh. Ilkay Gündogan, Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Antonio Rüdiger miss the start of the training camp due to the Champions League final on May 29 between Manchester City and Chelsea. “That’s good news. You wish the players to be in a final like this, «said Löw, who after goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen went out of the European Championship because of an operation on his knee behind captain Manuel Neuer, he relies on Kevin Trapp and Bernd Leno.
After the friendly against Denmark on June 2nd and five days later against Latvia, the DFB-Elf will start the tournament against world champions France on June 15th. Other opponents in the preliminary round in Munich are Portugal and Hungary. SID / nd
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