European Football Championship - Völler warns even without flashpoints: European Championship starts again now
Julian Nagelsmann grumbled at the German national football players after a day of pool and leisure activities under scorching heat at the training ground in Franken.
The head coach, Rudi Völler, however, left the public consensus with a clear warning signal before the first knockout match against Denmark. The latest health update on defensive chief Antonio Rüdiger was also withheld by Völler.
Sitting in the well-climate-controlled media center, the sports director took a sip from his coffee mug and briefly slipped into the role of a warning sign. Optimism is allowed, but now our senses must be sharp. Otherwise, the wonderful EM atmosphere is already over by the weekend. "Now there's a new competition, now it's knockout system, quarterfinals, and we're armed," said the 64-year-old in Herzogenaurach.
Reminder from 1992
Danish Dynamite has not lost its dangerous potential in the German football consciousness. Völler, of course, remembered that legendary European Championship final in 1992, where he, with a broken arm, in vain tried to return to the German team as a good luck charm. The 0:2 in the final had to be followed from the tribune.
"Everything is history, only 2024 matters," said Völler today. "The national team is wonderful, Nagelsmann is wonderful as a trainer and a human being," he added in his typically grumpy Tante-Käthe storytelling style. But the EM, it goes again from a formidable group phase with good mood football and necessary resistance.
Denmark is the logical German opponent for Völler in the EM quarterfinals on Saturday (21.00 hours/ZDF/Magenta TV). Of course, he praised the opponent, as is customary out of respect, but also out of a trace of self-protection and caution. "That's a dangerous opponent, we know that," he said.
Dortmund as a major factor
The decisive fire, Völler has identified in Nagelsmann and the German national players. And with the Dortmund factor, the stadium with the magical football energy, the entry into the semifinals should already be successful. "We have earned this optimism, this self-confidence. This determination to enter the next round, we definitely have that," said Völler.
After one and a half years in office, he feels deprived of his core responsibility at this EM. As an emotional firefighter, he was assigned to Nagelsmann's predecessor Hansi Flick after the WM disaster in Qatar. And now? In the EM summer 2024? Fires? "There have been no fires so far," said Völler. And he is not angry about that.
Regarding a relatively moderate crisis report, Völler was prompted to address the defensive situation. The good news: Rüdiger was able to complete a light jog in the fitness tent next to the training ground three days after the strain in his right thigh. Team training was not yet in sight due to the injury from the Switzerland game.
Excluded from participation on Saturday according to official regulations is also not an option. "In the end, it will be Toni together with the trainer and the medical department who will decide. It's too early to say anything definitive," Völler let it be known.
Unintended transfer news
If Rudiger is not playing alongside yellow-carded Jonathan Tah, Füller wants to prevent any panic feelings. "There are no negative thoughts that it might not go well," he said. Nico Schlotterbeck played well against Switzerland. And Waldemar Anton? Füller also trusts him for an EURO appearance. However, he stumbled a bit when talking about Anton. The Stuttgart player had many offers and decided on Dortmund as his future employer. A transfer news about the DFB-Pk? Füller later qualified his statement a little. But the information was suddenly more interesting than Anton's calf.
It is clear through Füller's hint about Anton that Nagelsmann also sticks strictly to his EURO role model even with absences. There are no thoughts about Emre Can as a substitute central defender - as favored by the former national team captain Michael Ballack.
Arguments for Havertz
The fan wish for a starting appearance from Torholder Niclas Füllkrug instead of Kai Havertz will not be fulfilled. Füller did not make up his mind in the big German striker discussion. But in a description of each player's strengths, the 64-year-old revealed in which direction Nagelsmann is thinking.
"Füllkrug's quote is certainly extraordinary," said Füller. The 31-year-old Füllkrug has scored 13 goals in 19 international games. But: "You also need a playing central striker, and Havertz can solve that wonderfully on his way. He does it exceptionally well in his own unique way," said Füller. Havertz is facing his 50th appearance for Germany against Denmark.
- Rudi Völler's warning signal ahead of the first knockout match against Denmark at the European Football Championship points towards a sharp focus, as the Qatar World Cup debacle still looms.
- Despite the peaceful day of pool and leisure activities in Franken, Völler reminds everyone that everything is history, and only 2024 matters for the national team.
- Entering the quarterfinals, Völler identifies the Dortmund factor as a significant element in their quest for the semifinals, citing the stadium's magical football energy.
- In Herzogenaurach, Völler acknowledged Denmark as a formidable opponent, potentially dangerous, and emphasized that the national team must exhibit good mood football and necessary resistance.
- Antonio Rüdiger, with a strain in his right thigh, is undergoing rehabilitation next to the training ground and his participation in Saturday's match is yet to be determined, leaving no room for panic.
- Julian Nagelsmann maintains a strict approach to team selection, with no thoughts about Emre Can as a substitute central defender, preferring to stick to his EURO role model even with injuries.
- Franconia-based Nico Schlotterbeck and Waldemar Anton, sporting offers from various clubs, including Bavaria, could find themselves on the pitch for Germany, though discussion on their role remains ongoing.
- Kai Havertz, with 49 appearances for Germany, is favored by Nagelsmann as a playing central striker due to his unique ability to solve that role exceptionally well.
- The absence of Niclas Füllkrug as a starting player instead of Havertz is unlikely, as Rudi Völler ponders over the big German striker discussion but leans towards Havertz's strengths and abilities.
