The European championships that are coming up this summer will of course be held across Germany. Germany is usually considered as one of the top contenders going into major international tournaments, and once again this year their squad must be considered especially with home advantage and the calibre of players on show, as well as the injection of energy from new manager and former Bundesliga winner with Bayern Munich, Julien Nagelsmann.
Germany have a rich footballing history having reached the World Cup final on eight occasions including having won the cup four times. Their record in European Championships is just as impressive with three titles and six finals reached. (DFB, 2014) However, since their last major trophy win at the World cup in Brazil in 2014, Germany have struggled to gain momentum in tournaments and have very much been under succeeding. At the next world cup in 2018 Germany failed to make it out of the group finishing bottom just four years after being crowned champions of the world. At Euro 2020 we saw them being convincingly knocked out by England at the Round of 16. Then in the World Cup just gone in Qatar, we saw Germany knocked out at the Group Stage once again after a famous win by the Japanese over the traditionally stronger Germans.
Now under Nagelsmann they are under a manager who knows how to win football matches with a 71% win percentage as manager with Munich. (Bundesliga, 2023) The core spine in their squad looks strong with Neuer in nets, Rudiger in the centre of defence, Kroos and Gundogan in central midfield, with Havertz coming in as the number 9. Germany has the perfect balance between youth and experience with young star boy Musiala being available for Nagelsmann, while also having the choice to bring in the veterans, Hummels and Muller. (Bundesliga, 2024)
While Germany may not have the depth of squad that the English or French might have, they will certainly fancy their chances. Having the home crowd on your side is always a massive help. When they held the world cup in 2006, the first time they held an international football tournament since reunification with the east, they came in third place. Now with a manager like Nagelsmann at the helm, fans are certainly hoping the title can swing the way of the host nation. It must be said that England and France remain the two big favourites, but the hosts shouldn’t be written off if Nagelsmann can get his team to gel playing this summer.
Sources
The history of the Germany national team (2014) National Teams :: DFB - Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V. Available at: https://www.dfb.de/en/national-teams/#:~:text=The%20national%20team’s%20success%20speaks,that%20competition%20on%20three%20occasions (Accessed: 23 April 2024).
How will Germany line up under Julian Nagelsmann at Euro 2024? (2024) bundesliga.com - the official Bundesliga website. Available at: https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/how-will-germany-line-up-julian-nagelsmann-euro-2024-24849 (Accessed: 23 April 2024).
Julian Nagelsmann: 10 things on Germany’s ex-bayern munich and RB Leipzig coach (2023) bundesliga.com - the official Bundesliga website. Available at: https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/julian-nagelsmann-10-things-on-bayern-munich-s-coach-rb-leipzig-baby-mourinho-5300 (Accessed: 23 April 2024).
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