German reunification: what the fall of the wall has united… let fussball not separate it
Lor that the fall of the Berlin Wall has united… let football not separate it. “Playing a European Championship in our country is a unique opportunity, something that happens very occasionally. We must put aside the rivalry that exists between clubs and all support the national team,” pleads Julian Nagelsmann.
We must put aside the rivalry that exists between clubs and all support the national team
The debates are now behindover the goal, the controversyfor the captaincy, the scufflebetween Rüdiger and Füllkrug…Germany will raise the curtain on ‘their’ Euro Cup tonight against Scotland with the 2006 World Cup – it was the first major tournament they organized as a reunified country – in memory.
“If we get off to a good start, the country could experience a similar enthusiasm as that time,” warns Philipp Lahm, director of Euro 2024. He knows what he’s talking about. The former Bayern player scored two goals in the opening match against Costa Rica (4-2) 18 years ago.
The ‘Mannschaft’, at that time, arrived in crisis. They had just been eliminated in the Group Stage in two consecutive European Championships (2000 and 2004), but the bronze in 2006 – with Klinsmann as coach and Löw as second – It was the seed of the World Cup won in 2014.
History seems to repeat itself. Germany said goodbye to the last two World Cups (2018 and 2022) in the Group Stage. What’s more, the blushing losses against Spain (6-0) and Japan (1-4) they got ahead to Löw and the Barcelona player ‘Hansi’ Flick.
However, the return of Toni Kroos in March after three years away -coincided with the victories over the Netherlands (2-1) and France (0-2)- has lifted the spirits of the four-time world champion (1954, 1974, 1990 y 2014).
This was the return of Toni Kroos to the Mannschaft… 990 days later!
“I’m still hungry. If I didn’t believe it was possible [ganar el torneo]I wouldn’t have returned. “Ending my career by winning the Champions League and the European Championship would be almost cheesy… but I would accept it,” assures the Madrid player.
I’m still hungry. If I didn’t believe it was possible [ganar el torneo]I wouldn’t have returned
The team with the most appearances (14), the most games (53), the most victories (27), the most goals scored (78)… in the history of the Eurocup also seeks to be the most successful [en solitario]. For now, His three titles (1972, 1980 and 1996) place him, along with Spain (1964, 2008 and 2012), at the top of the record.
The ambition is maximum, starting with Kroos and continuing with Nagelsmann: “Perhaps it is not the most convenient thing to say that we are going to become European champions, but I think that all the teams come with the same objective: to win.”. Otherwise, no one would strive to qualify.”
Perhaps it is not the most convenient thing to say that we are going to become European champions
START WINNING
The debut, in any major competition, is crucial and Germany, which has just lost the first match with Japan (1-2) in 2022, with France (1-0) in 2020 and with Mexico (0-1) in 2018… you know.
Rüdiger: “We can bring Real Madrid’s killer instinct to Germany”
“The first match is very, very important. The last few tournaments have shown it in negative terms. It would also be good to win for our and the country’s morale. We are more than warned,” admits Kroos.
The first game is very, very important. The last tournaments have shown this in negative terms
THE CURSE OF THE HOST
Being a host is not always synonymous with success. In the 16 previous editions it has been quite the opposite. Only three organizers have won the title: Spain (1964), Italy (1968) and the last was France in 1984. 40 years have already passed.
Along the way, however, there have been very painful defeats. Portugal lost the 2004 final at home to Greece (1-0), but took revenge by beating France in Paris in 2016 (1-0) with a goal from Éder in extra time. England, although not a typical host, also lost the last one, on penalties, against Italy at Wembley.
We meet the Scottish fans one day after their debut
Scotland won’t make it easy for them either. “We want to make history, achieve something to remember: get through the group stage and see how far we can go”says Gilmour. The ‘Tartan Army’ – 200,000 Scots are expected to visit Germany – will do the rest.
