European Football Championship - Nagelsmann plans with Rüdiger - No information on striker issue
Julian Nagelsmann will use Antonio Rüdiger in the EM quarter-final of the German football team against Denmark in defense. Whether Kai Havertz or Niclas Füllkrug will be in the attack in Dortmund on Saturday (21.00 Uhr/ZDF/Magenta TV) is something the national team coach did not want to reveal at his press conference before the game.
"He is very important for us. The doctors have done everything to get him fit. He looks fit. If nothing happens, he can play tomorrow", Nagelsmann said about Rüdiger's fitness. The 31-year-old defensive chief returned to team training on Friday after his thigh strain. With muscle injuries, one has to see what happens after the first training session, Nagelsmann admitted. The trend is towards Rüdiger's participation. His partner in central defense will have to be Nico Schlotterbeck, who will replace the yellow-card suspended Jonathan Tah.
No comment on Havertz or Füllkrug
Nagelsmann answered harshly when asked if Havertz or Füllkrug would play in the striker position. "I have made my decision, but I will not tell them", the national team coach noted. He had not followed the media discussion about this issue "at all", he had "enough to do". "We are the coaching team, we decide who plays", emphasized the 36-year-old.
Nagelsmann had used Havertz in attack during the home European Championship game so far, while Füllkrug remained a backup. Füllkrug came on as a substitute in the 5:1 win against Scotland in the opening game, as well as against Switzerland, where he scored the equalizer in stoppage time.
- Antonio Rüdiger, a key player for Dortmund in North Rhine-Westphalia, will be integral to Germany's defense in the European Football Championship quarter-final against Denmark.
- The DFB, the German football association, will broadcast the quarter-final match between Germany and Denmark on ZDF and Magenta TV at 21:00 hours on Saturday.
- The Danish national team will face a tough challenge in the defense against Germany, with Rüdiger likely to partner Nico Schlotterbeck in the center.
- Germany's national soccer team, currently coached by Julian Nagelsmann, will rely on Rüdiger's fitness as they aim to progress further in the European Championship.
- Despite the media speculation, Nagelsmann refused to reveal whether Kai Havertz or Niclas Füllkrug will be in the attack for Germany on Saturday.
- The Denmark national team, led by their coach, will have to contend with the formidable German offensive, which could include star players like Havertz or Füllkrug.
- With Nagelsmann at the helm, both Havertz and Füllkrug have had opportunities to showcase their skills in the attack for the German national team, contributing to their impressive run in the European Championship.
