German national football is in the biggest crisis since the turbulent beginning of the 21st century, the atmosphere around the national team is not ideal before the start of the European Championship, but the "Manschaft" was and remains among the biggest favorites for the title in the biggest competitions.
Such an impression was not spoiled by the fact that the Germans were eliminated twice in the last three major tournaments already in the group stage (the 2018 and 2022 World Cups), as well as the fact that at the last Euro they finished in the round of XNUMX.
All this contributed to Joachim Lev leaving the bench, after him Hans Flick did not become famous either, and Julian Nagelsman was given the trust to return the national team to the championship path. He has a chance to convince the public on home soil that Germany is a force again, and the quality is definitely there led by Jamal Musial, Florian Wirz, Toni Kroos, Ilkay Gindogan, Kai Havertz, Manuel Neuer...
In their only appearance at the European Championship on home soil (1988) the Germans reached the semi-finals - there they were eliminated by the Netherlands, who later won the only major title.
The survey as an indicator that Germany is not unique
A little more than ten days before the start of the European Championship, the turmoil in the German public continued, and football had to be included in the controversy.
Namely, ARD television published a survey in which it asked citizens whether they think the national team needs more white football players, and over 20 percent of respondents answered yes to that question. Nagelsmann and representative Joshua Kimmich could not hide their disappointment...
- I don't see the purpose of such a poll in the country we live in. Yes, there is no reason to extenuate - that survey is racist, and what shocked me even more was the response of the citizens. I feel that we have to wake up from everything - said the selector.
Kimich continued:
- I am angry and I speak on behalf of every member of the national team, no matter what his name is and what color his skin is. I don't think this question deserves an answer.
So basically the countdown to the Euros in Germany began, but then it was time for football topics. Nagelsman knows what is expected from the national team.
- We are all motivated to show as much as we can from the first game. I felt a great charge from the first day that I took over the national team, which has huge potential - said Nagelsman, who is chasing the fourth European crown with Germany, the first since 1996.
The Scots seem to be the ideal opponent to start with.
- We know the mentality of that national team - they will die for every ball. But we will do that too. We will be inspired and it is important to direct that energy in the right way - we have to stay focused and be ready for anything. Because this is the Euro, the game will not be the way we want it to be for all 90 minutes - said the former coach of Bayern, Leipzig and Hoffenheim.
Džan instead of Pavlović
Nagelsman had to make a change just before the start of the Euros, so the injured Aleksandar Pavlović was replaced by Borussia Dortmund midfielder Emre Džan.
- We chose Emre because of his experience. Pavlović was great during the preparations, but now Emre is here and we know what we can get from him - said Nagelsman and referred to the return of Kroos to the national team:
- He won the Champions League six times, we all know what kind of player he is. Back in November last year, we started talking about his return and we didn't know if it was realistic. He came and said that he is absolutely ready and is a real reinforcement for us.
The Scots are not favorites to reach the knockout stage in a group that also includes Hungary and Switzerland, but in 270 minutes of football in the group stage they want to show where they belong.
- Our preparations are limited to going to the Euro and showing how much we can do. I want us to be compact, combative and ready for a fierce fight at any moment. If we comply with that, I can already say that after the Euros I will be satisfied - regardless of how many points we win - said Scots coach Steve Clark.
Scotland is participating in the European Championships for the fourth time and has never made it past the group stage. The last time she played against Germany in a major competition was at the 1992 European Championship in Sweden, when the "elf" won 2:0 with goals from Karl-Heinz Riedl and Štefan Effenberg.
Switzerland and Hungary will play in the second match of Group A on Saturday in Cologne at 15:XNUMX p.m.
Probable lineups - Germany (4-2-3-1): Neuer - Kimich, Ta, Ridiger, Mittelstadt - Kroos, Andrih - Musijala, Gindogan, Virc - Haverc;
Scotland (3-4-2-1): Gunn - Hendry, Henley, Tierney - Ralston, McTominay, Gilmour, Robertson - Meggin, Christie - Shankland.
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