Will the daring plan succeed with this delicate German football team?

Will the daring plan succeed with the supposedly weak German soccer team?

The lineup for the European Championship at home is now finalized, but there's still work to be done for Julian Nagelsmann. He has a specific plan in mind, but acknowledges the fragility of the national team. The stakes couldn't be higher as both a summer fairytale and the title are up for grabs.

"Star-studded squad," Julian Nagelsmann grins as he unveils his team for the home European Championship, "it could be mine, but it's ours." In Berlin, the national coach presented 27 players (one more to be trimmed) who he intends to lead Germany to a successful Euro 2024 - and he made it clear how this European Championship should unfold. Alongside the nation, with the fans. As a magical summer event.

A mere publicity stunt? Marketing tactics are no stranger to the DFB. Following the chaotic media chase for pre-selected DFB players, Nagelsmann, the 36-year-old, repeatedly emphasized the importance of creating a positive environment in the country and being accessible: "Everyone in the country should identify the team as their own, which should and can inspire." They're looking to recreate the collective euphoria of the 2006 World Cup. But can this be done in such a short period of time? Nagelsmann has an ambitious plan, but there are several potential pitfalls in the way.

Nagelsmann is certainly under pressure as he prepares for his first tournament as the coach of the German national team. The recent victories over France and the Netherlands have generated a renewed sense of hope for the country, following the underwhelming Hansi Flick era. Nagelsmann's squad is not only expected to perform well, but to captivate, dazzle and excite. To inspire awe and finally achieve success at a major tournament once again. A 'summer fairytale' 2.0.

No "trash talk" with Hummels

Elated atmosphere everywhere? No easy task. "Euphoria does not preclude concentration," believes Nagelsmann, explaining that the team will indeed interact with fans in public forums but appreciate "some space" to work. The national coach is content that the country is now "much more positive than before" and stresses, "I want to be entertained by my team." The championship title is, of course, a top priority, yet Nagelsmann hopes for a thrilling European Championship regardless of the outcome.

The national coach also knows how to win the European Championship and only expresses this when asked. It's not just about technical skill. In addition to the high spirits in the country, Nagelsmann requires the right blend of character and playfulness and ensuring the "extremely delicate" and "tender young plant" flourishes. To achieve this, he points out several key players.

"Every player has their own personality, their own unique qualities," explains Nagelsmann. It's about "bringing the right characters together to create a well-rounded team." It's all about the balance and "not always the best players." Remarks that could haunt the coach if the European Championship doesn't go according to plan. The tournament's main challenge is maintaining high energy and evading a camp collapse.

Although Mats Hummels and Leon Goretzka are not mentioned, it's possible they won't be at the home European Championships due to their willingness to speak out in the media and question teammates or coaches. They responded "incredibly upset" to not being nominated, Nagelsmann reveals, but it was "not a hostile conversation." The tournament will reveal whether this choice was beneficial.

Kroos - "solid as steel," Andrich - "scoundrel mentality"

Nagelsmann is also focusing on a good balance on the field. He's combining seasoned and experienced players with flexible and ambitious ones. The core: Manuel Neuer, Antonio Rüdiger, Toni Kroos, İlkay Gündoğan. Before the international matches in March, the national coach faced a "gamble," meaning he had to take a risk. "We knew we had to change things around," he explains, with Rüdiger being the first name on his list. The seasoned Real Madrid defender forms central defense in front of Neuer, alongside Jonathan Tah from champions Bayer Leverkusen.

Toni Kroos, who Nagelsmann had closely observed during a training session in March and praised several times at press conferences, served as a link between the defenders and goalkeeper Neuer. Not distant because he's already won everything? "He's completely ordinary, down-to-earth, and part of the group." Not too old because he only plays a few games at Real Madrid? "When you hug Kroos, he's like steel," tells the national coach. "He has an incredible body and is extremely fit." The 34-year-old is in the best shape he's been in for years. He also assists his teammates on the field with his composure on the ball. In Nagelsmann's opinion, everyone knows that "I can always pass to him, he rarely loses the ball." It doesn't hurt that Kroos and Rudiger are familiar with each other from Madrid, but Kroos was also a world-class player at the 2018 World Cup and, like all of his teammates, crumbled under the pressure in Russia.

The younger players Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, along with the inexperienced but potentially impenetrable "Berlin Wall" (quote from Nagelsmann), will then surround this axis: Maximilian Mittelstädt and Robert Andrich. Mittelstädt, like Rudiger, is from Berlin, and Andrich was born in Potsdam and played for Hertha BSC and Union Berlin. "Maxi is having an astonishing season" and has "matured defensively," says Nagelsmann with enthusiasm. "Rob has really found his footing and is contributing to us with his physicality and scummy attitude." The underlying foundation is still a work in progress that needs to be tested over a longer period of time.

Müller can also work with "rappers"

But it's not just the sporting aspect that matters; Nagelsmann also praises Thomas Müller. He won't play much from the start, but is "great coming off the bench and is always eager to play soccer" and his flair is responsible for his signature "Müller goals." However, Müller is more appreciated by the national coach for his communication skills: "He is a connector, he can connect groups." The national coach uses this example to explain: "He can connect with the rappers in the team and with those who yodel." Müller might not be a simple "good-humored uncle," but he provides important communication for any team. Additionally, someone like Müller can ignite the spark (along with goals) that could lead to a coveted summer fairytale. "He's also a connector with fans and the media," explains Nagelsmann, "a lubricant and a link."

This squad is also a potential time bomb: does the forward line have enough power if Niclas Füllkrug falls out or has a bad day? Can the inexperienced Deniz Undav and the injured Leroy Sané live up to their potential? Will the calmness of Hummels, who has been at his best in the biggest games this season, be missing from a potential quarter-final? Can this team, which has only played two games together, function as a cohesive and well-coordinated unit like the national basketball team was a well-oiled winning machine at the World Cup?

Nagelsmann cannot rely on as much consistency as the basketball players, but he has nearly determined his starting lineup for the international matches against France and the Netherlands. However, there is a potential issue: "A structure emerged in March, but it is still fragile," said the national coach. That's why he didn't want too many new players, as "then the house collapses." Now, they need to "give the tenderly growing little plant some stability" and "feed it with training sessions."

Julian Nagelsmann is taking a gamble with his squad for the European Championship. His strategy could succeed. But the clock is ticking: the team is "fragile" because they only spent ten days together in March - will a short preparation, with players from Dortmund and Madrid joining later due to the Champions League final, be enough to transform the little plant into a solid, towering tree? A stumbling start would significantly dampen the excitement in the country.

The pressure is immense. PR no longer plays a role on the field. A summer fairytale and a title are within reach. Despite the fact that the German national team has lost every tournament since 2016, it is widely known that plants struggle to thrive in these conditions.