After a rocky build-up, Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala and Toni Kroos will be looking to entertain their home fans at Euro 2024 (Photo: Metro)
It’s fair to say that had they not been the host nation, Germany probably wouldn’t have qualified for Euro 2024.
Die Mannschaft spent much of the build-up to their own tournament in crisis but a late change in the dugout has given them renewed hope that they could actually pull of a shock win.
Since their World Cup victory a decade ago it’s been nearly all doom and gloom, with their last knockout win in a major tournament coming via a penalty shootout way back in Euro 2016.
Germany kick-off the Euros against Scotland tonight. Is it the start of a remarkable journey?
Manager: Julian Nagelsmann
This time last year, Julian Nagelsmann was pondering whether to take a job in the Premier League after being unceremoniously and (as it turned out) idiotically sacked by Bayern Munich.
Then in September, Hansi Flick was fired by Germany after winning just 12 of his 25 games in charge and 36-year-old Nagelsmann found himself catapulted into one of the toughest managerial tasks there is.
He’s not had the easiest of starts with four wins out of eight, but the former Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig boss is very highly-rated despite his young age and has already had his contract extended until after the 2026 World Cup.
Julian Nagelsmann only became Germany boss last September (Photo: Getty)
Style of play & starting XI
In a short time, Nagelsmann has experimented with a variety of formations and systems but appears to have settled on a 4-2-3-1 which can morph into a 4-4-2 which utilises aggressive pressing.
Veteran Manuel Neuer is once again in goal, joined in the back-line by familiar faces Antonio Rudiger and Joshua Kimmich, with Maximilian Mittelstadt coming in at left-back after a fairytale year at Stuttgart.
Toni Kroos came out of international retirement a few months back and while the Real Madrid legend will hang his boots up for good after the Euros, he is a key cog in the team, starting in the midfield pivot with Manchester City’s treble-winning captain Ilkay Gundogan in an advanced role.
The forward line consists of three No.10s: Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz. The Arsenal star will start up top but drop deeper to support the midfield having previously been bizarrely trialled at left-back by his manager.
The lack of a natural striker could hinder Germany (Photo: Metro.co.uk)
MVP: Jamal Musiala
He may only be 21, but it feels like Germany and Bayern Munich have been pinning their hopes on Musiala for some time now.
Born in Stuttgart but raised in South London and formerly of Chelsea’s academy, Musiala played for England’s youth teams but snubbed Gareth Southgate, and already has over 200 appearances for club and country.
Germany have lacked a superstar forward who can change a game at will in their last few tournaments. Now more than ever, they need Musiala to deliver.
Jamal Musiala scored 12 and assisted eight for Bayern Munich this season (Photo: Getty)
One to watch: Florian Wirtz
Bayer Leverkusen’s remarkable near-invincible season, losing just one of 53 games across all competitions, was spearheaded by the efforts of Wirtz.
The 21-year-old bagged 18 goals and 20 assists to help Xabi Alonso’s side win the Bundesliga and German Cup and reach the final of the Europa League.
He has only one goal for his country in 18 caps – scoring against France in a March friendly inside the first SEVEN SECONDS – but expect that to change this summer.
Florian Wirtz was the poster boy for Bayer Leverkusen’s incredible ‘invincible double’ (Photo: Getty)
Route to the final
As hosts, Germany were drawn in Group A and kick-off the Euros against Scotland in Munich on Friday 14 June, before taking on Hungary and Switzerland.
If all goes as expected, they’ll ease to the quarter-finals where they’ll face a tricky test against Spain, before a semi-final against Portugal. Overcome that and they’ll likely take on one of the favourites in France or England in Berlin.
Full squad
Germany’s 26-man squad for Euro 2024:
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona)
Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Stuttgart), Benjamin Henrichs (RB Leipzig), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt), Maximilian Mittelstadt (Stuttgart), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfielders: Robert Andrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Chris Fuhrich (Stuttgart), Pascal Gross (Brighton and Hove Albion), Ilkay Gundogan (Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Emre Can (Borussia Dortmund), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Forwards: Maximilian Beier (Hoffenheim), Niclas Fullkrug (Borussia Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart)
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