European Championship quarter-finals - DFB team starts Spain preparation without Can
The German football national team began its active preparation for the EURO 2024 quarter-final against Spain without Emre Can from Dortmund. The 30-year-old midfielder was the only player from the 26-man squad missing at the training ground in Herzogenaurach. The DFB cited load management as the reason.
Can could have been available for Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann at Stuttgart on Friday (6:00 PM/ARD and MagentaTV). Jonathan Tah of Leverkusen could return to the defense after serving a yellow card suspension against Denmark. Nico Schlotterbeck of Dortmund had replaced him brilliantly in the round of 16. Nagelsmann spoke of a luxury situation in defense.
With Nagelsmann fielding the same starting eleven in all three group stage matches, there is now a real battle for positions in the knockout phase. David Raum has fought his way back into the team. However, Maximilian Mittelstadt remains a tough competitor.
Wirtz pushes his way back into the team, Havertz secures his spot
Florian Wirtz wants to displace Leroy Sane from the starting lineup again after his cameo role in the round of 16. Set in the offensive are captains Ilkay Gündogan, who has already scored three tournament goals, Jamal Musiala, and Kai Havertz. Nagelsmann explicitly praised the competition for Niclas Füllkrug after the 2:0 against Denmark, in which Havertz scored the first goal.
"He has worked hard, defensively and offensively. I would have given him another goal," said Nagelsmann. "But you first have to make and then convert the penalty, and you also have to take it in front of the Danish fans. The first goal was incomprehensible in its importance, it was brilliantly scored, brilliantly converted."
Emre Can's absence from the DFB team's training sessions in Herzogenaurach was due to load management, as mentioned by the DFB. Denmark was the team that Germany had faced in the round of 16, where Havertz scored the opening goal. Julian Nagelsmann, the German national team's coach, had fielded the same starting eleven in all three group stage matches, leading to a fierce competition for positions in the knockout phase.
Jonathan Tah, who was suspended during the match against Denmark, was expected to return to the defense lineup. Florian Wirtz, a talented player, was pushing to displace Leroy Sane from the starting lineup, following his impressive cameo role in the round of 16. The German national soccer team was set to face Spain in the EURO 2024 quarter-final, with a strong defense lineup and a competitive offense.
Bavaria's Julian Nagelsmann expressed satisfaction with his defensive lineup, calling it a luxury situation. The German team was preparing diligently for the challenge against Spain, with players like Kai Havertz and Ilkay Gündogan being key figures in the offense. Havertz, in particular, had secured his spot in the team, having scored three tournament goals.
Spain was the next opponent for the German national team, and the anticipation was high. Emre Can, despite missing the training sessions, could potentially join the team for the match against Stuttgart. If he did, it would add another layer of complexity to the already competitive German squad. The DFB team was geared up for the quarter-final, determined to bring their A-game against a formidable opponent.
