Ronaldo rages, Rangnick rebels, DFB-Elf is unbelievable
The German football national team overcame the EM-group stage magnificently, winning with seven points as the group leader. But what this team is capable of, no one really knows yet. Much greater question marks hang over England and France. Both top favorites left their fans despairing. The Austrians, on the other hand, were wooed by Ralf Rangnick, the German tactics professor, who chose love over the Großglockner and Bayern's flirt attempts. Has there been a sensation? After 36 of 51 matches, there are many insights. We are looking back at the group stage from a sports perspective.
Who was good so far?
The Austrians! Through the "Monstergroup" with France, the Netherlands, and Robert Lewandowski's Poland, the team led by trainer Ralf Rangnick maneuvered so skillfully, just like the great Marcel Hirscher between the alpine slalom gates. The people on the boards are generally those who have the greatest legend status in the Alpine Republic. But thanks to the German tactics professor, who decided for love in the shadow of the Großglockner and against Bayern's advances, the country has acquired a versatile tenacity. Not only does it run beautifully on snow and ice, but the green grass has also been added to its repertoire.
The men in red-white run fearlessly towards their opponents, with pressing following the logic of the Red Bull School, which Rangnick himself founded. The rebellious collective works diligently and can always rely on great moments from individual players. Marcel Sabitzer is in top form, just like Rangnick's role model Christoph Baumgartner. And even Marko Arnautović, the captain and big hero, still has a few tricks up his sleeve. There's more to come, starting with the quarterfinals against Turkey. And possibly a second EM duel with the Netherlands.
The Spaniards are a bit better, at least football-wise. This comes less surprisingly. The team is blessed with talent. Nico Williams dominated the previously unconvincing Italy. The title defender danced on the brink of disaster in the group stage until the last second. Lamine Yamal made the old Croatians look even older, and that with only 17 years. Incredible is what the megatalent of FC Barcelona does with the ball and tempo. And with a genius like Rodri, the midfield chief, in the back, it storms and presses in Germany as beautifully and relentlessly as during Goethe's times.
What about the Germans? Were they not good?
Good question. Sometimes the world is white, sometimes it's black. Toni Kroos doesn't like that, as he recently revealed. After the first match against the nice but weak Scots, the German team felt like European champions already. After the somewhat shaky performance against Hungary, the euphoria was still great, with the head coach praising the resilience of his squad. Then came the group final against Switzerland, which was saved on the last meters. Joker Niclas Füllkrug scored the equalizer in stoppage time. Kroos was out, Wirtz was substituted, and the defense was overrun. A shot in time or an alarm signal? They really don't want to know about the second scenario in the DFB camp. The next opponent, Denmark, comes from the middle shelf of European football. And the mood is the same: It will work out. The great euphoria has taken a slight hit. In the back of their minds, they still remember the debacles of the past. So far, the team has kept the bad spirits at bay with their impressive determination.
What about England and France, though?
Good question again! English fans are throwing beer mugs at the trainer, who leaves them frustrated. Why is this giant ensemble so reluctant to dance on the field and play with fire? The pragmatism, if that's what it is, causes confusion not only at home for the "Three Lions." The experts here are also puzzled as to why the team performs so poorly with spectacular footballers like Jude Bellingham or Phil Foden. It's quite bizarre: The players themselves acknowledge that they can do better. But they are particularly critical of their own performances. Group winners should be enough. Yes, they may have to apologize to Southgate and Co. in the end. Maybe the team is conserving its energy and wins the title, as many had predicted. They don't have strong arguments for this - except that they are still undefeated in this tournament.
The same goes for the French. Three games, two goals, neither of which was scored from the field. Ugh, that sounds like a crisis! And yes, it is a crisis. In the direct clash with Austria, a own goal made the difference. Against the Netherlands, there was nothing, and against Poland, an penalty kick was converted by Kylian Mbappé. That was, as expected, not much different from the superstar. So fast, so tricky, so clinical - supposedly. The big question before the tournament was, who can stop this man? But so far, there haven't been any particularly extraordinary answers. The Austrians presented their strong collective against him, even if ntv.de expert Ewald Lienen is surprised that the superstar is often not used on the wings, where he can better show off his ridiculous speed. Then came the broken nose, a game pause, and a re-integration against Poland. If Mbappé's engine doesn't start, it will be tough for France. Already on Monday against Belgium and its angry coach Domenico Tedesco, who hasn't fully warmed up his Red Devils yet.
Who has had fun, though?
Clear, the Swiss spread joy on the pitches and the lawns. They are loud (fans) and fast (players). The Turks celebrate a gigantic party and refuse to give up on the autocar parade even after a powerless clash with Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal. The team plays with great passion and has an exceptional talent for key moments in Arda Güler. But now it's against Austria, which could quickly end the party in red. There's not much to say about the Scots. The fans have earned the title, the players have fought desperately. The same goes for the Albanians. Great support, a big will, but very limited footballing means.
But the biggest EM enrichment so far is Georgia. This (largely unknown) collective, with the overpowering goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and the fast and dribble-strong Napoli striker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The team of Willy Sagnol would have never found the way to the group stage through the qualifiers. Only the success in the Nations League was what made the country debut at the tournament. And how they use the stage (possibly also for deals at big clubs). Unyielding, cunning, and passionate. Georgia games are a journey into the past, when football was still wild and unruly. The showdown against Turkey (1:3) was a love declaration to the game! Sadly: In the round of 16, the Spaniards are waiting.
By the way, how are the old heroes faring?
Cristiano Ronaldo is desperate! He would so love to shoot a goal and set the next record. He would then be the first footballer to score at six European championships. A problem: The superstar, who lives and plays in the desert, is no longer seen as the first and only option by his teammates. To his personal frustration, he is surrounded by a confusing flash of speed. He keeps showing where the ball should go. He points to himself. Even at supposed fouls, which the referees no longer give him, unlike before.
Once he was very close to a goal in this tournament, but against Turkey, he stood on the brink of the record, he passed the still open Bruno Fernandes instead of shooting. The stadium went wild with joy. Ronaldo had granted a magic moment, against his inner impulse. He still has at least one chance to continue working on his already enormous legend status.
Unlike his long-time teammate Luka Modric. The old master played brilliantly in the group stage final, experienced completely crazy 31 seconds. He was directly turned back into a folk hero, only for his team to collapse against Italy in the 98th minute. Modric was shown seconds before how he was biting his shirt in anticipation. A sad last impression of a great international career.
What else is worth mentioning?
In the group stage games, a running gag emerged. Who is actually this "Own Goal", leading the scorers' list of the tournament. Seven times the ball ended up in the "wrong net". And what were some of these for fine things! For instance, Antonio Rüdiger headed the ball past Manuel Neuer. And Austrian Maximilian Wöber turned his head so skillfully (unintentionally!) into a pass, that the ball was placed and unstable in the goal! But it was all overshadowed by the Turkish defender Samet Akaydin. He thought he had defended against a Portuguese attack, with Cristiano Ronaldo sometimes angrily offside. Akaydin wanted to give his goalkeeper a break and pass the ball to him. But he was not where the defender expected him, and so the ball rolled from the penalty area into its own goal. Seven times therefore the ball ran astray, is that really a lot? However, at the last European Championship, there were ultimately eleven own goals.
Julian Nagelsmann, the renowned German soccer coach, has been closely watching the German national soccer team's performance in the European Football Championship 2024. His former player Toni Kroos has been a notable figure in the team, displaying his usual quality and leadership. Despite the team's impressive group stage performance, Nagelsmann and many others still have questions about the team's true potential.
