The national team is set to compete. - Nagelsmann Begins Tuning for European Championship upon Arrival in Heavy Rain
In the midst of heavy rain, Julian Nagelsmann made his way to the European Championship team headquarters, sporting a humorous demeanor. "The weather is terrible," he quipped at a lively fan gathering near the home ground. Around 2000 devoted spectators valiantly endured the cold rain to catch a glimpse of the national football squad at an Adidas event. "It's fantastic to see you all here," Manuel Neuer greeted the crowd.
The atmosphere was light and jovial. Sporting white raincoats, the coach and players cheerfully signed autographs and took selfies. Fan favorite "Major Tom" anthem reverberated through the stands. Goalkeeper Neuer and Leverkusen double champion Florian Wirtz tempted the audience with a barrage of red-gold-black shirts from cannons.
During the training camp in Thuringia, the DFB team was buoyed by the enthusiastic fan response. "The signs are positive if we receive such a welcome," Thomas Müller stated in the late afternoon on Friday.
After challenging the rigorous training in Erfurt and Erlangen, the national players converged on the DFB headquarters. In the morning, the team engaged in another training session in Thuringia. Neuer made significant progress in his comeback preparation as goalkeeper.
Host sponsor Adidas, due to take over as the official supplier from the US market leader Nike starting 2027, is preparing the national team for the second stage of preparations for the domestic tournament. Nagelsmann revealed his satisfaction with the initial phase.
"We experienced ideal conditions at the training camp. Although several players couldn't attend the entire session due to the DFB Cup finals and Champions League confrontations, we efficiently utilized the time, generating excellent team dynamics," said he on Friday.
The collective optimism surrounding the team has steadily increased, but the coaching staff has wisely maintained a conservative approach. "We needed to grant the players a respite at the beginning to wrap up the season mentally," said Nagelsmann.
Oliver Bierhoff remains impressed, though any excessive jubilation is quashed. "We need to remain grounded, as these days in Weimar were used for testing. Next comes the fine-tuning in Herzogenaurach," the 64-year-old insisted.
Saturday's agenda is centered on Wembley Stadium, where four national players will square off. Borussia Dortmund's Niclas Füllkrug and Nico Schlotterbeck, and Real Madrid's Toni Kroos and Antonio Rüdiger, will compete for the Champions League title.
"I hope all four players emerge victorious, though only two will be triumphant," Nagelsmann diplomatically remarked prior to the game. "We'll welcome two champions and two disappointed upcoming stars next week." The national coach believes that the inflated feelings of winning and the eventual bitter defeat will be eclipsed by the EURO tournament.
With the exception of Neuer, Nagelsmann's EURO lineup is near completion. The squad that delivers remarkable March victories against France and the Netherlands is scheduled to face Scotland on June 14th. However, Neuer, who missed training due to a training injury in March and was replaced by permanent understudy Marc-André ter Stegen, displayed his readiness for a comeback on Friday.
The regimented spearhead in front of Neuer forms a rigorous formation: Kimmich, Tah, Rüdiger, Müller - Andrich, Kroos - Musiala, Gündogan, Wirtz - Havertz. The clarified role assignments by the national coach to regulars, contenders, and substitutes foster "confidence and a satisfying feeling," Leverkusen's twofold champion Jonathan Tah asserted. "But don't get too complacent," the 28-year-old warned, alluding to his own exceptional season.
On Monday (8:45 pm), Nazelsmann's ideal squad will assemble in Nuremberg to face Ukraine, excluding Kroos and Rüdiger. The Real Madrid duo will only enter the EURO rehearsals in Mönchengladbach on the 21st of May, when Bayern's Leroy Sané can also participate following a three-game suspension. "These two international matches should not be underestimated, even if they are merely practice games," Bierhoff remarked. He hopes to secure a third and fourth victory for the EURO squad. "It brings a sense of confidence to the team and the entire population."
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After the rigorous training sessions in Erfurt and Erlangen, the team returned to the DFB headquarters in heavy rain. Nagelsmann expressed delight at the enthusiastic fan response during the training camp in Thuringia. Adidas, the new official supplier starting 2027, was praised by Nagelsmann for the ideal training conditions. Despite the impending ICE journey to Nuremberg, Bierhoff emphasized the importance of maintaining a grounded attitude.
Tah commended the role assignments by Nagelsmann, ensuring a confident and satisfying feeling among the players. However, he warned against complacency, drawing from his exceptional season. Neuer, recovering from a training injury in March, demonstrated readiness for a comeback. Meanwhile, four national players would vie for the Champions League title in Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
In London, Borussia Dortmund's Niclas Füllkrug and Nico Schlotterbeck as well as Real Madrid's Toni Kroos and Antonio Rüdiger would await the Champions League outcome. Nagelsmann expressed hope for the triumph of all four players, recognizing the transient nature of victory and defeat in the tournament's context.
Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah highlighted the significance of the role assignments in increasing confidence among the team. In Nuremberg on Monday, Nagelsmann's ideal squad would face Ukraine, though Kroos and Rüdiger would join for rehearsals in Mönchengladbach on May 21st.
Bierhoff underscored the importance of the upcoming international matches, even as practice games. He hoped for three more victories, bringing a sense of confidence to both the team and the entire population. Engaging in such fine-tuning ahead of the European Championship promised a stronger representation for Germany.
