National team - The fairy tale of Mittelstadt: Much more than a wine and Hungary expert
With a fine Hungarian red wine, Maximilian Mittelstadt now identifies himself. "A very, very good bottle", he chose and brought as a thank you to his former trainer and long-time supporter Pal Dardai in Berlin, he shared in the Football National Team camp. "Absolutely excellent" tasted the noble drop, replied the renowned Hungarian ex-coach from the capital about red wine and cigar enjoyment.
Further gifts cannot be expected at the Dardai household on Wednesday. Mittelstadt must put aside his relations with Hungary before his personal EM home game against the Magyars in Stuttgart (6:00 PM/ARD/Magenta TV). Dardai will cheer on his son Marton at the opponent's side and not his Football apprentice Mittelstadt.
For the German National Team, it's about early entry into the Round of 16. For Mittelstadt, it's about adding a chapter to the incredibly charming story in his new Swabian hometown. In twelve months, from the sad Berlin Bundesliga relegator to - according to Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann - one of the top four international left outside backs.
Development "a madness"
How does that work? "It's crazy how fast everything can develop. I've worked hard for it, even in the years when it didn't go so well. I never doubted that I had the quality. I always believed in myself", Mittelstadt explained.
At the final training on Tuesday, Mittelstadt came in his new yellow training shoes next to Chris Führich and Waldemar Anton. Deniz Undav is the fourth Stuttgart player in the EM squad. The quartet is proof of the collective Stuttgart resurgence.
Mittelstadt was still looking for two bottles of wine with the VfB logo for the Berlin trainer staff. Both his current team coach Sebastian Hoeneß and Nagelsmann deserved a good drop. The one enabled the development, the other recognized it. And Mittelstadt sees parallels. "Both are young, modern trainers who have a good connection with the team", said the 27-year-old. His successful start in the National jersey this year was also facilitated by the similar mentality of the trainers.
Not just a rausbolzen (a German term for someone who only sits back and lets others do the work)
"It's not just in the tactical aspect, but also in the personal aspect. Both want to play football, want ball possession, want attacking football", Mittelstadt said. With a tactic where you "just sit deep and let the balls out", he would not have found himself as a left back in the DFB jersey so well, he assumed.
In March, he was first called up for the DFB team by Nagelsmann. He convinced against France with a 2:0 as Dembele's opponent. Three days later, he scored his first international goal - and "Major Tom" rang as the Torjingle premiere for him. Interpret Tom Schilling presented the video of Mittelstadt's EM nomination. "It was a cool idea, I was very happy about it.", said the new Stuttgarter.
Schneppchen from Berlin
500,000 Euro that the VfB paid for Mittelstadt in the summer of 2023. A bargain, as it turned out. "An apprentice remains an apprentice forever." That was the feeling Mittelstadt had at his youth club. In the relegation season, he was often only an alternate under Dardai.
In the national team, the man with the strong left foot was in the starting line-up in all games under Nagelsmann in this year. He also showed a good performance during the 5:1 against Scotland. The long-term DFB construction site on the left is currently being repaired. And Mittelstadt is already dreaming of another EM home game. On 14th July. EM Final in Olympiastadion. In Berlin.
- Maximilian Mittelstadt, now a member of the National Soccer Team, enjoys a fine Hungarian red wine, a gesture of gratitude towards his former trainer and supporter, Pal Dardai in Berlin.
- The Football National Team is aiming for an early entry into the Round of 16, while Mittelstadt hopes to add a chapter to his story in his new Swabian hometown, Stuttgart.
- In the EM game against Hungary in Stuttgart (6:00 PM/ARD/Magenta TV), Dardai will cheer for his son Marton on the opponent's side, not for Mittelstadt.
- Mittelstadt attributed his development from a relegated Berlin Bundesliga player to one of the top four international left outside backs to hard work and unwavering belief in his abilities.
- During the final training, Mittelstadt wore new yellow training shoes alongside Chris Führich and Waldemar Anton, and Deniz Undav was also present as a Stuttgart player in the EM squad.
- Mittelstadt was planning to get two bottles of wine with the VfB Stuttgart logo for the Berlin trainer staff, a token of appreciation for coaches Sebastian Hoeneß and Julian Nagelsmann.
- Nagelsmann enabled Mittelstadt's development, while Hoeneß recognized it, and Mittelstadt saw parallels in their approach - both are young, modern coaches who have a good connection with the team.
- Mittelstadt felt like an apprentice at his youth club, often a substitute under Dardai, and the sum of 500,000 Euro that VfB Stuttgart paid for him in the summer of 2023 seemed like an underestimation.
- Since his first call-up for the DFB team by Nagelsmann in March, Mittelstadt has been in the starting line-up in all games under him, with a standout performance against Scotland.
- The long-term DFB construction site on the left is currently being repaired, and Mittelstadt is already dreaming of another EM home game, on 14th July, with the EM Final in Olympiastadion, in Berlin.
- Interpret Tom Schilling presented the video of Mittelstadt's EM nomination, and the new Stuttgarter was happy about the innovative idea.
