Yodeler rather than court jester: Müller serves as special envoy for the European Championships.

The national team seeks to improve its performance. - Singer who yodels becomes special envoy for European Championships.

The release of a thunderous bang is followed by amusing cackles. Earlier than Thomas Müller's raucous entrance onto the DFB rostrum, he's enthusiastically preceded: Classical Thomas Müller. The best entertainment is assured from him, even if it results from unintended commotion.

Müller does not crave to be the village buffoon at Schloss Blankenhain. "I've no purpose of entertaining individuals. That's not how we advance," explained the 34-year-old in the basement of the German team's media center in Thuringia. "We're sustained by everyone delivering their finest." The experienced player confirmed.

Müller is far more than just a mascot during his fourth and probable last Euro Cup. He still maintains significant ambitions and seeks to expel his personal EM hex (no goal, no title). He's the primary one to publicly speak in preparation. He's the individual chosen by Julian Nagelsmann to convey the requirements for obtaining the long-overdue trophy.

"We absolutely can't conceal, but we also don't have to act as if everything's going our way," Müller summarizes the existing sporting scenario two and a half weeks before the inaugural game against Scotland in his hometown Munich. Müller realizes that it must be successful on June 14th. "The initial spark is vital," he predicts, predisposed by the practitioner with the experience of four World Cup and three European Championship appearances.

Nagelsmann has also entrusted him with this exclusive mission as part of his extraordinary script. In an accolade to compliments, the national trainer described him as a "connector" (connector), as "lubricant," as someone who can handle "yodelers and rappers" in the national team just as efficiently.

It's undeniable that Müller is a leader. It's simply his nature. He's the happy-go-lucky one. He's aware of what drives spectators. He still feels as one of them. "There's no alternative to being in the house," he describes his feeling while contemplating the national team.

Even at the public practice in Jena, he emerged first onto the terrain, paced his teammates, and entertained spectators with a cheerleader. Even a crippling hit to his left knee couldn't dissuade him. The gregarious uncle in charge of instilling a positive mentality is already capable of playing, but he doesn't want to forget about the sports aspect. "I know what I can do. I'm a dependable player. I've been doing the same thing for 15 years," he affirmed and elicited snickers again.

Müller keeps a watchful eye on the grammar of his fellow players. Nagelsmann has favored his caretaking of the young Bayern colleague Aleksandar Pavlovic upon his arrival in Thuringia, his acquaintance with every DFB employee. The veteran sees an instructional role in a few young talents in the squad - and even in the German language. "I rebuke them when they fail to incorporate 'der, die, das' in a phrase," said Müller, dumbfounded by the youth slang. He himself is more of a yodeler than a rapper. However, "You can't stop learning."

Regarding the end of his DFB career, he likely will make a spontaneous judgment later in the tournament. "I'm not contemplating retirement as of yet, but rather the tasks in front of us. Everything else will be evaluated." He's presently a goal shy of Lukas Podolski (130/49) in both DFB rankings, who, towards the end of his DFB career, functioned as an entertainment artist.

Müller is an integral component of the strike force. Jamal Musiala, Ilkay Gündogan, Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz, Niclas Füllkrug, Leroy Sané - there's formidable rivalry. Principal roles on the field haven't been distributed by Nagelsmann. "He'll see playing time, not always from the start," said the national trainer.

Müller has yet to score a goal at the European Championship. The last German game without him was the final in 2008 in Vienna against Spain (0:1). Müller has been on the field for all 15 games at the tournaments in 2012, 2016, and 2021. And surprisingly, this - a humorous footnote - not only without the title-winning succession in all other important competitions from the World Cup to the Champions League, but also without a solitary goal. Ten World Cup goals, zero European Championship goals, this balance would not please Müller.

Mainly, a startling lineup prior to the lost semi-final against Italy in 2012, assortments of botched shots in the 1:0 win against Northern Ireland in 2016, and the missed significant chance for the equalizer in the eighth final (0:2) three years ago in England stand out. The tournament elimination and the conclusion of Joachim Löw's tenure were the result. Müller asserts that this cherry-picks his Euro Cup affliction in a particular way. But: "I'd prefer to score a goal if it benefits success."