Updated July 4, 2021, 11:05 am
- Now that the semifinals at the EM have been decided, our EM expert Olaf Thon has decided on a favorite for the title.
- After the departure of the German team, Thon enjoys the beautiful pictures of the fans before and after the games.
- In addition, our columnist breaks a lance for the TV duo Jessy Wellmer and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
The mood in the quarter-finals was phenomenal. How excited the fans were before and after the games, those were images that carried away. It’s a shame that we Germans can’t be so happy with our team.
I’m trying to block out Corona. I’m one of those early with Corona came into contact and survived after four weeks. But I’m happy that it looks like we’re slowly getting a grip on Corona overall. Of course there are discussions as to whether it makes sense to let 60,000 spectators into the stadium from the semi-finals in London, but I believe that if everyone there has been vaccinated, tested or recovered, then so be it. I hope, of course, that we don’t get a fourth wave. But I am not a prophet and I am first of all enjoying these beautiful pictures that we see all over Europe during this European Championship.
Germany has not found the right spin
At first glance, the euphoria of the fans in the stadium – for example the English, Italian and Danish fans – may be an advantage they had compared to the German team. But we also played in front of a home crowd, but for us it was just wasted.
The DFB team showed good unity and good team spirit, but we just didn’t play football well. We haven’t found the right spin. With the other teams, you can already tell from the national anthem that there is a jolt going through the team and we were missing the decisive kick. The fact that Jogi Löw resigned too late after three years also plays a role in my opinion. Because the quality of our team is no worse than that of the others – apart from the fact that we don’t have a classic striker.
Italy is the biggest EM favorite for me
So far I have felt the Italians the strongest. For me you are the biggest favorite for the European Championship. But there are nuances. You have the right people in the most important positions. Bonucci and Chiellini are very strong, but also insignia in the attack or goalkeeper Donnarumma convince. The fact that Spinazzola is now out with a ruptured Achilles tendon is bitter, but I think the Italians can compensate for that too. This team just works.
I see England versus Denmark in the semi-finals England as a favorite. Danish Dynamite was very excited about the euphoria after the Story with Christian Eriksen will be carried. Still, my final is Italy against England.
But the semi-finals have to be played first. And when I think of my semi-finals in 1990, we also had to go to penalties to easily win against Argentina in the final.
After an eventful group stage, the European Championship has reached its crucial phase. Now every game is all or nothing. Here you will find – constantly updated – the best pictures of the knockout round of the EM 2021.
That’s what matters in the penalty shoot-out
Penalty shootouts are always brutal. It is not the class that comes to the fore, but the nerves. I always suffer because I know from my own experience how difficult such a situation is. It’s all a matter of the head. You need special shooters, and above all someone who leads the way. With us, the Eurofighters, was the door opener Ingo Anderbrügge, who immediately built the first shot into the corner. I believe that at least one more game in the semi-finals will be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
Wellmer and Schweinsteiger are doing a good job
By the way, I think that Jessy Wellmer and Bastian Schweinsteiger do a good job – even if they have to take a lot of criticism right now. When I think back to Günter Netzer and Gerhard Delling, they came across as a bit dull and old-fashioned at the beginning and then became a dream team. I think you have to give Schweinsteiger and Wellmer the chance to continue at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Perhaps a small flaw in their reporting was that Schweinsteiger was still a little too close to it Jogi Löw is your turn. After all, he was his former player, became world champion with him, but you could have been a little more aggressive, especially after the elimination. But the bottom line is that both exude esprit and cosmopolitanism and, in my opinion, are very well prepared. They just had to bring the mistakes of the German national team more clearly to the point. But I think they will do better at the next tournament.
Minutes from Sabrina Schäfer
At the EM 2021, numerous experts will appear in front of the TV cameras. While some skilfully present themselves and shine with specialist knowledge, others are criticized. An interim report of who was convincing – and who was not.
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