Host taps into renewed sense of hope

Host nation Germany is riding a resurgent wave of hope with the Euro 2024 tournament opener against Scotland just a week away.

After two group stage World Cup exits in a row, and a loss to England in the last 16 of the Euros in 2021, Germany suffered a dire 2023, with just three wins in 11 games.

Many in Germany predicted an embarrassing early exit on home soil for the three-time Euros champion. That view has changed in the past four months.

While Germany may have only drawn 0-0 with Ukraine in Nuremberg on Monday, it spurned chances, particularly during a dominant second-half.

"You'd prefer to win," coach Julian Nagelsmann said after the match. "But, the most important factor is that I want to see a team that wants to win. Today, we wanted that victory."

Germany was without four players, including fulcrum Toni Kroos, who played with Real Madrid in last Saturday's Champions League final.

Debutant striker Maximilian Beier went close to breaking the deadlock, while youngsters Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala showed they can form a dangerous attacking combination.

Other Nagelsmann selections, including Stuttgart's Chris Fuhrich and Maximilian Mittelstadt also impressed, suggesting the coach has got his squad right before the tournament begins on June 14.

The improvement in form on the pitch — and the optimism off it — will buoy Nagelsmann's side as it pushes for a fourth Euros trophy, which would break a tie with Spain for most titles.

Germany faces Greece in its final friendly on Friday in Monchengladbach, but will come up against sterner tests in its bid to reach the business end of the continental soccer showpiece.

'Perfect' preparation

Taking over in late 2023, after Hansi Flick became the first coach in Germany history to be sacked, Nagelsmann won just one of his first four games.

The coach shook up his squad in response, leaving out 11 players and bringing back 2014 World Cup winner Kroos, who had retired from international duty in 2021.

Rather than relying on big names from powerhouse clubs Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, Nagelsmann's squad was laden with players from Bayer Leverkusen, on its way to a Bundesliga title, and Stuttgart, who finished as surprise runner-up.

With Nagelsmann picking players on form, Germany beat two Euro 2024 contenders, France and the Netherlands, in March with convincing performances.

Germany faces Scotland, Hungary and Switzerland in the group stages of the Euros — three teams the host will now be expected to beat.

Nagelsmann said the Ukraine match was "perfect in view of the games which await us in the group phase".

Veteran Thomas Muller, heading into his fourth Euros, said Monday that there was "no reason to be nervous", despite the goalless draw.

'Great support'

After difficulties of recent years, the German public has embraced the national team on the eve of the tournament.

Instead of the usual methods of announcing the squad, the German FA (DFB) embraced a novel approach, drip feeding the team player-by-player through TV personalities, influencers and celebrities — reaching a new audience as a result.

Star midfielder Wirtz was announced at a concert by musician Nina Chuba, while Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger's selection was made public in a video from his favorite kebab shop in Berlin.

Just over 15,000 fans sold out a stadium in the central German town of Jena to watch the team train in late May — with a further 16,000 watching the event via livestream.

Nagelsmann told reporters in late May: "We feel the enthusiasm of the public for their team. We'll take this great support with us into the tournament."

AFP