Euro 2024: Germany’s return to the big stage

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

The German national team have had successive tournaments of heartbreak at the top following the 2017 confederations cup and the precedent FIFA world cup triumph. 

The 2018 and 2022 world cups saw consecutive group stage exits, their Euro 2020 campaign had nothing to particularly show forth as with the UEFA nations league exploits so far.

In that period Joachim Low, Hans-Dieter Flick, Rudi Voller and Julian Nagelsmann have taken charge of the national team.

And quite frankly, it’s the last of the quartet that’s provided much inclinations of returning Die Mannschaft to the biggest stage. Here’s how he has done it.

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Midfield dominance

Julian Nagelsmann capitalizes on effective possession and control to see out games. The gaffer typically fields about 7 midfielders in his usual trusted lineup.

Quite frankly, the innovation of his triple offensive midfielders with Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz taking the spots available either side of Ilkay Gundogan.

Attack Spree

Julian Nagelsmann was famous for trying out different approaches at Bayern Munich and with the German national team, he’s committed to his dynamic, full fledged attacking approach.

Germany have now scored 7 goals at EURO 2024, more than they have in the group stages at any other Euro campaign with the nation.

The last time they scored as many at a major tournament was the 2014 World Cup when they went on to win the tournament.

Defensive rigidity

Team captain Manuel Neuer is trusted in goal over Barcelona’s Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. The defensive unit is led by Antonio Rüdiger with Jonathan Tah as his pair.

Germany have finally kept a clean sheet in a major tournament for the first time after 13 successive games of failing to do so.

Bar the unfortunate own goal from Antonio Rüdiger in the opening day victory, it could have been two of two clean sheets.

Toni Kroos’ return

The German veteran has already retired at club level and will hang his boots totally after the European Championships.

In the nation’s opening two games, much of the gameplay has been orchestrated by him.

In this tournament, he’s made the most line breaking passes across both games 47 against Hungary and 30 in the earlier game against Scotland at least 9 more than the next placed player.

While the tournament is still quite lengthy in terms of becoming eventual winners, Die Mannschaft have provided every indication that they’re indeed ready to return to their status amongst Europe’s elites.