The biggest spectacle in European international football is upon us as 24 teams battle it out for 2024 European Championship glory in Germany.
It’s been nearly three decades since Die Mannschaft last won the title, and if Euro 2024 betting odds are anything to go by, they’ll have to punch above their weight to end that drought.
Star-studded England and World Cup runners-up France are the leading candidates to seize continental supremacy, with Germany lagging behind their old foes.
Part of the reason could be the nation’s notoriously poor record at the final tournaments since reaching the Euro 2016 semi-finals under Joachim Low.
Back-to-back World Cup group stage eliminations and an underwhelming Euro 2020 last-16 exit have notably derailed Germany’s stature in world football.
Hansi Flick paid the price for Die Mannschaft’s embarrassing run in Qatar two years ago, opening the managerial vacancy for another former Bayern Munich head coach.
Shortly after being sacked by the Bavarians in March 2023, Julian Nagelsmann took charge of the three-time European champions, looking to turn their fortunes around after a miserable spell.
New Philosophy
Germany’s second-youngest coach has abandoned the national team’s long-term policy of housing Bayern’s finest.
That used to be an integral part of Die Mannschaft’s tradition for decades, but Nagelsmann seems hellbent on putting his stamp on a new-look German side.
During March’s international break, only three Bayern players found their places in the 36-year-old’s squad amid speculation he could be reinstated as the Bavarians boss after Thomas Tuchel’s departure.
However, Nagelsmann has recently played down such talks, maintaining during an interview with SABC Sport that there haven’t been any formal contacts between his camp and the Allianz Arena outfit.
Whether his unceremonious Bayern exit had anything to do with his selection preference remains uncertain.
But Bayer Leverkusen’s emergence as a new supreme power in the Bundesliga must have been a factor, even though most of Die Werkself’s historic season has been inspired by foreigners.
Key Figures
Heavily linked with a move to several top European clubs, Florian Wurtz takes a fair share of the credit for Leverkusen’s imperious run to their first-ever Bundesliga title.
The 20-year-old forward will be one of Germany’s most lethal weapons at Euro 2024, alongside Bayern prodigy Jamal Musiala, with both teenagers excelling on the club level over the past two years.
Nagelsmann’s decision to bring Real Madrid stalwart Toni Kroos back from international retirement is a gift that keeps on giving.
The veteran midfielder has forged a formidable partnership with Ilkay Gundogan and Joshua Kimmich in a 4-3-3, providing a backbone for Germany’s scintillating 2-0 friendly win against France in March.
By doing this, Nagelsmann has created a perfect mix of experienced serial winners and world-class potentials, increasing Germany’s chances of defying their recent woes at major tournaments.
Home Turf Doesn’t Guarantee Success
Playing on home soil has its benefits. But it can also be counterproductive, considering the significant amount of pressure it places on the hosts.
In fact, you’d need to go back to France’s triumph in 1984 for the last time the European Championships host nation last won the tournament.
The last two Euros editions have not been kind to their hosts.
Despite carrying a tag as pre-game favourites into the Euro 2016 grand final against Portugal, France had to settle for a silver medal.
England boss Gareth Southgate, who has recently been warned there will be a major crackdown on discipline at Euro 2024, as per the Daily Mirror, was the last manager to fall victim to this curse.
Italy came from behind to beat the Three Lions on penalties at Euro 2020, winning the prize at the most iconic stadium on the shores, Wembley.
If Nagelsmann is to break this hoodoo, Germany will have to be at the top of their game from the get-go as they take Scotland in a curtain-raising fixture on June 14.