DFB squad masters crazy journey of adversity
For the first time since the EURO 2016, the German football national team is in a quarterfinal at a major tournament. The team led by national coach Julian Nagelsmann had to overcome some obstacles - and remained incomprehensible even after the game ended.
At the end, it culminated in a mad five-minute journey. Joy, ecstasy, disappointment, anger: A few hundred seconds in the German home European Championship's eighteenth-finale are enough to tell these emotions. The German football national team advances to the quarterfinals for the first time in eight years with a 2:0 success over Denmark. On an evening full of stories, some remain particularly memorable. There are thunderous natural disasters that cause interruptions, or the use of the latest technology, which completely changes the course of the game.
It could have all turned out differently. At 10:30 pm, the ball suddenly lands in the DFB team's goal. The Danes cheer, the goal music starts playing, defender Joachim Andersen turns to celebrate. Suddenly, it's 1:0 for Denmark in the 48th minute. But, hold on, the VAR speaks up. The goal counts, does it? In Dortmund's Westfalenstadion, anxious seconds of waiting begin. While referee Michael Oliver stares at the monitor on the sidelines, Danish fans start singing softly. Then, 10:32 pm: Amidst these quiet Danish singing, the German fans' jubilee erupts. Ecstasy and relief: The goal is disallowed. Offside.
So it remains 0:0 in Dortmund's Westfalenstadion. And while everything is being sorted out again, the DFB team launches the next attack. From the left, David Raum crosses into the penalty area, the ball goes astray. But just a minute after the great jubilee of relief, the three letters appear on the video screens: VAR. Referee Oliver points to his arm while he runs to the monitor again. The chip in the ball and the deflection on a green line provide the evidence: Surprisingly, Eigentor-scorer Andersen touched the ball with his arm. Only a few DFB players had noticed it in the stadium - and the highly sensitive technology.
What followed was quickly told. Penalty for the DFB team. Kai Havertz converts. 1:0, 53rd minute, 10:35 pm. The stadium, the German substitutes' bench, national coach Julian Nagelsmann: Everything explodes. And the Danes? They sense that a sport that lives so much from emotion can suddenly be influenced by cold technology: While German fans are still celebrating the goal with "Song 2" by Blur in the stadium boxes, UEFA shows the images of the previous offside decision. Andersen may have been offside by a little toe at his goal. Not noticeable to the human eye. Danish coach Kasper Hjulmand was furious at the press conference, and his anger was understandable without translation.
The Danish team reacts to the VAR decision
The German team celebrates the disallowed goal
Just as in a All-or-Nothing game, everything flips after the first goal. It changes everything. The Danish fans were in the minority, but they were just as loud as the people in the white and pink shirts with Germany flags before this goal. National coach Nagelsmann spoke after the late 1:1 equalizer against Switzerland last week about how the goal had woken up the stadium. It was the same again. Dortmund's Westfalenstadion can have a special energy, which was felt: Suddenly, the "White Wall" on the Southtribune celebrates every save, every ball win of the DFB team.
However, Nagelsmann found it hard to grasp the game after the final whistle. During the match, he seemed unusually tense: Constantly pacing through the restricted zone in front of his bench, constantly fidgeting with his hands. Even after the 90 minutes were completed, he couldn't quite get a handle on it. Nagelsmann spoke after the end of the game alternately about a "bizarre knockout game" that was "completely wave-like" or about a game "full of obstacles." It was all true.
For the first time during the Home-EM, he changed his starting lineup. In total, he made three substitutions. Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck replaced the yellow-carded Jonathan Tah and fulfilled his duties convincingly. For the unfortunate Maximilian Mittelstadt, room was made in the first team. Surprisingly, Bayern star Leroy Sané started for the recently inconspicuous Florian Wirtz. However, there was no change on the central striker position: Niclas Füllkrug remained his superjoker role, instead Havertz stormed again.
But not "Mr. Kachelmann"
Despite the lineup change, the DFB team plays well into the quarterfinals. The newcomers integrate without problems, especially Sané is not spared for a sprint. The first 20 minutes were, from the coach's perspective, the best of his team in the tournament so far. However, while the DFB team dominates the game, the impending disaster is foreshadowed in the Dortmund evening sky. First, it's dark clouds, then occasional lightning, and eventually a loud bang. Panic sets in among the lower rows as raincoats are pulled out. Downpour, game interruption. The teams leave the field.
Wind and rain lash through the stadium, enormous water masses fall from the roof behind the corner flags. The German fans in the lower stands huddle together. Special moments arise: At some point, the people in the Westfalenstadion sing ironically "Oh, how beautiful", while the sound of raindrops hitting the stadium roof is heard. On the press tribune, cell phones are eagerly used to film, two Danish fans dance naked in the falling waterfalls from the roof.
Nagelsmann is later asked on the press conference in English: Was the interruption coming too late? Was it at the right time? The coach shakes his head, he doesn't know. After all, he's not "Mr. Kachelmann". But what football expert Mr. Nagelsmann knew: His team did not benefit unconditionally from the 25-minute interruption. The DFB team starts promisingly after the interruption, but then loses focus. The Danes come better into the game, even have a big chance just before half-time.
## Now? Favorite for the Tournament?
After the break, the game tips over. Above all, due to Denmark's double VAR misfortune, which results in Germany's 1:0. After that, everything becomes easier - on the pitches and on the grass: Denmark must loosen up its defense, giving the German team ample space, and Toni Kroos no longer has to be constantly hounded. In the 68th minute, all the dams break: Jamal Musiala scores the second goal after a long ball. Beer mugs fly over the stands, German fans in the stadium are already singing about Berlin, the final location.
Perhaps this is a bit hasty. For not only this "wavy" play, but also this German team, is still difficult to grasp. On which wave is it surfing? How stable is it? Sometimes it plays its opponents against the wall, sometimes it seems quite fragile. The defense, led by captain Antonio Rudiger, has not yet been put to a real stress test - not even in the round of 16. The games against Switzerland and Denmark, however, have shown how dependent the national team is on Kroos. Without him, little works, not even close, especially when he was taken out of the game. A real Plan B is still lacking.
And yet: The national coach is satisfied. The German team climbs another rung in the tournament bracket, making the next step in its learning process. After the spectacular 5:1 against Scotland, the 2:0 victory against the physical Hungarians, and the not-so-pretty 1:1 against Switzerland, this is the next lesson. The German team wins in a psychologically challenging game. The long thunderstorm interruption and the nerve-wracking VAR minutes are not easy to process. He is proud, said Nagelsmann. "The team deserves this, that it has managed to erase the old hard drive and understand how good it really is." While the national coach is saying this, a new storm is brewing outside.
Julian Nagelsmann, the national coach of the German soccer team, faced a tense situation during the European Football Championship 2024 quarterfinal against Denmark. The team was on the brink of conceding a goal due to an offside decision, but the VAR intervened, saving Germany from a potentially disastrous situation.
During the tournament, Nagelsmann had shown his adaptability by making changes to his starting lineup and substitutions. His team, despite not being the clear favorite, continued to advance, demonstrating that they were capable of winning in challenging games.
As the National soccer team prepares for the European Football Championship 2024, Julian Nagelsmann and the DFB (German Football Association) will have to face strong opponents such as Denmark. The team's performance in overcoming obstacles and the impact of technology in their games will be crucial factors in their quest to win the championship.
