Football return of the veteran
“Completely happy” – Hummels has his sights set on the home European Championships
As of: 4:47 p.m. | Reading time: 3 minutes
“I don’t believe in having to fight for every fan’s favor”
During their trip to the USA, the national team wants to lay the foundation for a successful home European Championship next year. On the way to a spirit of optimism under Julian Nagelsmann, only victories count for Mats Hummels and Thomas Müller.
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After more than two years, Mats Hummels is about to make his comeback to the national team in the USA. And the 2014 world champion wants even more after that. Hummels also thanks his club for a special convenience.
Mats Hummels does not see his comeback to the national team as a one-off event, but rather has at least the 2024 European Championship at home as a clear goal. “I don’t plan on playing any tournaments in 2028 and 2030. We are now really attacking again for the summer. Then we’ll see what happens,” said the 34-year-old Borussia Dortmund defender, who is part of the DFB squad on the USA trip for the first time since the 2021 European Championship, in Foxborough near Boston.
The new national coach Julian Nagelsmann surprisingly nominated him for the test games on Saturday (9 p.m., in the WELT sports ticker) in Hartford against hosts USA and then in Philadelphia against Mexico. In doing so, he honored the consistently good performances of the 76-time national player at his club. He was “completely happy,” said returnee Hummels after the first days of training.
“I’m ready when I’m called upon,” said Hummels about a possible starting eleven in the first test match. Nagelsmann also relies on the leadership qualities of the 2014 world champion. The central defender wants to fulfill these requirements: “Of course he expects me to take over the organization on the field. A role that I like to take on because it is in my nature.”
Mats Hummels is a popular conversation partner on the DFB team’s trip to the USA
Quelle: Getty Images via AFP/ALEX GRIMM
He witnessed the 2-1 win against France in Germany’s last international match in Dortmund as a spectator in the stands. We definitely have to build on this now. “During the game I noticed what a great atmosphere there was in the stadium. In order to stoke this fire that can carry the country at a home European Championship next year, two victories would be very important,” said Hummels about the upcoming appearances in the USA.
Hummels thanks you for the private jet
Meanwhile, Hummels thanked his club for the planned quick return of the BVB national players with a private jet after the DFB team’s second international match. “I think it’s a highly professional measure,” said the 34-year-old. After the Mexico game, the Dortmund players should fly back straight away.
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According to German time, the kick-off takes place on Wednesday at 2 a.m. (ARD). BVB opens the eighth Bundesliga matchday on Friday evening (8.30 p.m.) with the home game against Werder Bremen. Borussia has now chartered a plane for its four professionals Hummels, Niclas Füllkrug, Julian Brandt and Niklas Süle so that they can be back in Dortmund on Wednesday afternoon. The national team, however, only lands back in Frankfurt/Main on Thursday morning.
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“Having just had one night before the Friday night game to get the jet lag out would probably have been very short. The second night can help a lot,” said Hummels. “I think it helps to be a bit fitter on the pitch on Friday evening or at least to be in the squad.”
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But he doesn’t have any exact experience with such an action: “Let’s see how the legs feel on Friday evening at 8:30 p.m..” The time difference between Germany and the US east coast is six hours.
However, Rudi Völler, sports director of the German Football Association (DFB), had also reported that there was the possibility of moving the Dortmund league game from Friday to Sunday. BVB did not want to accept this option with reference to the Champions League game away at Newcastle United three days later.
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