DFB selection travels to Berlin
Julian Nagelsmann's class of '95/96 will be particularly motivated today as they travel to Berlin for the national team coach's home debut.
"Of course it's gnawing at all of us," said Serge Gnabry ahead of the national team's mood test against Turkey about the title-less period of the once so promising generation around him, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Niklas Süle and Leroy Sané. "Of course, the motivation to do well at the European Championship is then all the greater."
The next foundation stone is to be laid in the Olympic Stadium - where the European Championship final will be kicked off on July 14, 2024. "It has often been discussed that we were very successful with the youth national teams with the '95 age group," said Goretzka, "and have not yet achieved that with the senior national team apart from the Confederations Cup."
Nagelsmann's personnel issues
Nagelsmann, born in 1987, will speak publicly about his impressions of training for the first time this week during the obligatory press conference this evening - together with Sané. The national coach had announced that he wanted to work on stabilizing the defence before the test matches against Turkey and three days later in Vienna against Austria. On Thursday, all 25 national team players who had traveled to Frankfurt/Main were able to take part in team training for the first time.
It remains to be seen whether Mats Hummels will be fit again for the starting eleven after his back problems. Süle is a candidate to deputize for his BVB team-mate alongside the set Antonio Rüdiger. Captain Ilkay Gündogan is set to start in the center of midfield, while Nagelsmann also has the choice between Kimmich, Goretzka, Pascal Groß and Robert Andrich. Someone will have to replace Jamal Musiala up front - perhaps Jonas Hofmann?
Full stadium, many Turkish fans
In any case, tens of thousands of spectators, and possibly a majority who are not cheering for Germany, are expecting the DFB selection. "From what you read and hear, there will probably be a lot of Turks and German-Turks in the stadium," Gündogan told the German Press Agency. "In the end, of course, we want to leave the pitch as winners and continue our recent upswing."
In preparation for the European Championship, Julian Nagelsmann's national team, which includes players like Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, and Leroy Sané, will face Turkey at Berlin's Olympic Stadium. Nagelsmann, known for his success with the '95 age group, aims to address the defense and improve the senior team's performance, as they have yet to achieve similar success beyond the Confederations Cup.
Source: www.dpa.com
