Verify country correspondence - European Championship elation eludes DFB squad as they struggle to find the net.
Julian Nagelsmann, with a water bottle in his hand, watched as his national players prepared for the honor parade in front of the applauding fans. The national team had yet to light an EM firework on Monday night in Nuremberg. Despite their dominant performance and consistent offensive pressure, Germany ended in a goalless draw against Ukraine. Nagelsmann was visibly frustrated and continually rubbed his head, bewildered as to why the ball wouldn't find its way into the net.
After the match, Manuel Neuer, the Bayern star, expressed his disappointment in an interview with ARD. "Unfortunately, we weren't awarded for the many goal opportunities," he said. "But I hope it will look different in the group phase," he added, referring to the upcoming tournament. Neuer praised the "good defensive performance" 11 days before the EM opener against Scotland. Thomas Mueller, too, lamented the lack of a goal, saying, "We deserved a goal."
With Neuer, whose excellent goalkeeping ultimately prevented a defeat, the team at least managed to avoid a loss. With the fourth European title in sight, however, efficiency and goal-oriented play in attack were vital. The team nearly scored when debutant Maximilian Beier hit the post in the 61st minute.
The final chance for a full-strength warm-up match comes on Friday against Greece, and Nagelsmann will need to use this opportunity to fine-tune the squad before registering his selections with UEFA. After that, the team will head to Herzogenaurach for training.
Scholz, the federal chancellor, attended the game with great interest, likely due to the political significance. He wished for "a great football festival for all of Europe" before the match, and the German fans appeared excited as they chanted a line from the 2006 World Cup championship team's song.
Germany, lacking the Champions League winners Tony Kroos and Antonio Rüdiger, dominated the game against the compact Ukrainian defense. Unfortunately, there were not enough passes into the penalty area, and the streak of decisive goal opportunities went by the wayside.
The captain, Ilkay Gündogan, should have scored in the 15th minute, but was unable to capitalize on Gross' cross from Kroos' replacement. The German fans cheered the moment, hoping for a turning point, but it never came. Nagelsmann, ever energetic on the sidelines, relayed his game plan involving Bayern professional Jamal Musiala and Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz as creative forces in midfield. The two 21-year-olds faced a considerable challenge against multiple defenders.
The defense, which had vexed fans with its struggles for years, appeared to have improved under Nagelsmann, who led the team to victories in France (2:0) and against the Netherlands (2:1) earlier this month. Throughout the game, the Ukrainians exposed cracks in the defense, with Mychajlo Mudryk particularly causing problems for the Germans in the first half, coming close to the penalty area in a counterattack within the first five minutes.
Nagelsmann introduced five substitutes for the second half, with Stuttgart players Deniz Undav and Chris Führich joining Wirtz and Gündogan on the pitch. Anton and Mittelstädt, both from Stuttgart, replaced Rüdiger and Gündogan. As Undav and Führich led the attack, Germany created chances with headers from Havertz and Undav, as well as a shot from Führich that was blocked. Nemec made his national team debut in the 63rd minute, hitting the crossbar with his first touch.
In the waning minutes of the match, Führich tested the Ukrainian goalkeeper, and Neuer's impetuous pass to the opponent led to a nervy moment. Despite these close calls and missed opportunities, the game remained scoreless.
The weekend ahead would include a match against Greece on Friday and Nagelsmann's submission of his final squad to UEFA. Afterwards, the team would continue training at Herzogenaurach's camp.
With the tournament set to begin, the Chancellor's hopes for a celebratory mood rested on the national team's success and the fans' enthusiasm. However, if the lackluster offensive efforts against Ukraine were any indication, they may be in for a disappointing experience.
