Country's Representative Squad - The basketball world champion coach revs up the DFB squad for the European Championships.
Nine days prior to kick-off of their Euro 2020 journey, Germany's national football team experienced a notable visit. Basketball national coach Gordon Herbert made his way to join the DFB team alongside coach Julian Nagelsmann in Herzogenaurach. In tow were sports director Rudi Völler, and later, Herbert engaged in conversation with Nagelsmann. Following this, Herbert observed the DFB squad, which included Champions League winners Kroos and Rüdiger, undergoing their training. Later that day, the triumphant coach would address the players, delivering motivation for the upcoming Euros.
The 65-year-old Canadian has become a beacon for Nagelsmann. He led the German basketballers past all odds to secure the country's first World Cup title in the previous year. Much like Nagelsmann, Herbert has been a source of inspiration.
Much like his basketball counterpart, Nagelsmann has readily acknowledged the success of Herbert's team as a model for his DFB squad. The roles and responsibilities each player held during the home Euros were determined months before the tournament; this tactic is likely one Nagelsmann adopted from Herbert.
Nagelsmann recently recalled, "I recently watched a documentary about the German basketballers. It was so fascinating to observe the interactions between coach and players before the World Cup. It was evident that everyone knew their role months in advance."
Prior to the general rehearsal match against Greece in Mönchengladbach, champions league finalists Kroos and Rüdiger from Real Madrid, as well as Füllkrug and Schlotterbeck from Dortmund were present at the session on the Adidas field in Franconia, training under Nagelsmann. The only notable absence was Stuttgart's Mittelstädt, who missed out due to load management. Gruda, the training assistant, too, was absent after experience muscle issues.
