Opinion squad for the European Championships
The big losers in these international matches are the Dortmund stars
As of: 01:15 a.m. | Reading time: 3 minutes
Niklas Suele, Emre Can and Mats Hummels (here 2021): The former regular players at the DFB are likely to have some time off in the summer
Quelle: picture alliance/Eibner-Pressefoto/Roger Buerke
Germany also wins against the Netherlands. In the last test before preparing for the European Championship, the national team sent an important signal. But now there is a threat of hardship, especially at Borussia Dortmund – the national team simply doesn’t need Hummels, Can, Süle and Co. at the moment.
This international trip was what the German national football team so urgently needed. 2-0 against France, 2-1 against the Netherlands: above all, the way in which national coach Julian Nagelsmann’s selection performed gives hope for the European Championships in Germany.
Courageous, offensive, self-confident, structured, controlled, finally more stable, more consistent and safer – there were many positive findings for the national coach, fans and experts. Although the performance against the Netherlands on Tuesday evening in Frankfurt/Main was not as convincing as the one away against the French and this time the team missed a few scoring opportunities. Nevertheless: Germany was the better team against a big opponent, dealt with the early deficit well and deserved to win. So it was a ten-day trip with important successes – even though Manuel Neuer (injured) and Leroy Sané (suspended) were missing.
The last two tests before the start of the European Championship preparations produced several winners. And also clear losers. Robert Andrich and the returnee Toni Kroos are the ideal solution in central midfield, and Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz are an integral part of this team. Debutant Maximilian Mittelstädt presented himself well overall.
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Nagelsmann is also a winner, whose courageous nominations worked. He relies on the right system and had the same starting eleven play in both games. Finally, after many experiments since the desolate 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the roles are clearly assigned. The team sent an important signal in and around the two games; they are finally making more use of their potential and exuding joy in the game.
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The biggest losers, however, are the national players from Borussia Dortmund who are not nominated. With the exception of Niclas Füllkrug, Nagelsmann had not appointed any BVB professionals. The striker initially only sat on the bench against the Netherlands and headed the score 2-1 shortly before the end. The Borussia stars who are not nominated will have a very difficult time making it into Nagelsmann’s European Championship squad. Dortmund are facing hardship cases: Mats Hummels, Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Süle, Emre Can, Julian Brandt, Karim Adeyemi, Youssoufa Moukoko, Felix Nmecha – at the moment everything indicates that they will have time off in the summer. The national team simply doesn’t need them at the moment.
What a bitter result for Dortmund, who are responsible for this with their fluctuating performances, especially in the Bundesliga. The momentum is against them. They were not missed on the pitch on this international trip. They will have to play very well or outstandingly at the club in the next few weeks if they are to make their European Championship dream come true.
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There is also a threat of hardship at FC Bayern: Nagelsmann surprisingly did without Leon Goretzka on this trip. The midfielder still has a chance of a European Championship place; his physicality, style of play and experience can be very important in a long tournament. But the situation has worsened due to the performances of Kroos and Andrich and other options such as Pascal Groß for Goretzka. You wouldn’t necessarily have thought that before this trip.
There are still around three months until the opening game of the European Championship against Scotland in Munich. A long time in football. The German European Championship team has clearly taken shape. This is important – and was overdue.
The fight for the European Championship places is performance-enhancing. Nagelsmann and his players have exciting weeks ahead of them.
