The return of Toni Kroos, together with the victories over France (0-2) and the Netherlands (2-1), lifted Germany’s spirits. The ‘Mannschaft’ came from fall in the Group Stage of two consecutive World Cups (2018 and 2022) and receiving two embarrassing defeats against Spain (6-0) and Japan (4-1) that They precipitated the goodbye of Löw, first, and of Flick, later.
Suddenly, with the return of the Madrid player, all the pieces seemed to fit together. The exhibition against Scotland (5-1) in the debut at Euro 2024 triggered the euphoria: Kroos set up the play, Gündogan invented, Musiala and Wirtz floated…
Germany 5-1 Scotland: summary and best plays | Euro Cup (J1)
Against Hungary (2-0) they won with pragmatism and against Switzerland (1-1) they saw their way and hoped for it to scratch a point – Füllkrug scored in the 92nd minute – and go to the second round as leader of Group A.
The ‘Mannschaft’ is a roller with cracks. He dominates with the ball, but it is difficult for him to go one more gear and, when he does, he does not end up closing out the games. “We have dominated from the beginning. The criticism we can make is that we have not killed the game before. “We missed too many chances,” Rüdiger lamented after defeating Denmark (2-0) in the round of 16.
In defense he concedes chances with relative ease. The pressure from those above is not suffocating and, once that first line is overcome, the team splits. It is difficult for him to retreat.
In general, there are many open debates in Germany. The goalkeeper has been dealt with well by Neuer, who, at 38 years old, is establishing himself as one of the goalkeepers of the Euros. He had a great hand against Hungary in a direct free kick from Szoboszlai, he avoided Switzerland’s second with a save to Xhaka and the momentary 0-1 for Denmark by saving a one-on-one with Hojlund.
Germany 2-0 Hungary: summary and goals | Euro Cup (J2)
The right side of the defense, with Kimmich and Rüdiger, seems untouchable. The Bayern player, without being at his best, provides many solutions inside and out thanks to the glove he has on the right. The Madrid player is a ‘wall’. Against Denmark he dressed as ‘MVP’ with 13 recoveries!
On the left side, however, there may be changes. Schlotterbeck, who joined the team due to Tah’s suspension, convinced, especially with the ball, and could remain. His was the assist to make Musiala 2-0. Raum, more vigorous, also seems to have prevailed over Mittelstädt: He assisted Füllkrug against Switzerland and forced a penalty against Denmark.
Switzerland 1-1 Germany: summary and goals | Euro Cup (J3)
The double pivot is bipolar. Andrich acts as ‘anchor’. He is in charge of destroying, although he is not quite convincing. In fact, Emre Can has been gaining weight coming off the bench. Kroos, who starts the game almost as a left center back, is in charge of accelerating, pausing… Everything goes through him: never better said: he is the one who touches the most balls, the one who makes the most passes… and the one who filters the most in the final third.
That is precisely where Germany’s ‘agitators’ appear. Gündogan acts as a shuttler and second striker at the same time. He infiltrates between the lines to ‘free’, fundamentally, Musiala and Wirtz (Sané). Jamal, top scorer with three goals, is the one who steps on the accelerator. His change of pace is brutal. Raum’s entry allows him to play inside and ‘shortens’ his path to the goal. Wirtz, for his part, is not doing well. Hence, Nagelsmann brought on Sané looking for one more point of ‘vertigo’.
Germany 2-0 Denmark: summary and goals | Euro Cup (round of 16)
Above, the great debate. Havertz remains as ‘9’ despite the fact that his two goals have come from penalties.The fans, however, prefer the forcefulness of Füllkrug. He is not ‘Torpedo’ Müller, but he responds to the profile of a lifelong German ‘panzer’.
This is Germany, with its virtues and its defects. This is, in short, what awaits Spain.
