There are still three days until our national team’s European Championship start against Scotland in Munich on Friday (9 p.m., in the WELT sports ticker). The DFB stars are currently getting fit with sweaty sessions in Herzogenaurach. The players are repeatedly reaching for drinking bottles. What was noticeable: the national players are drinking from six-year-old bottles with the official logo of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Why is that? The emblem of the 2018 World Cup has negative connotations. The World Cup in Russia was seen as a propaganda tournament by President Vladimir Putin. Four years later, Russia started its war of aggression against Ukraine, which continues to this day.
BILD asked the DFB why. The association’s answer: “For sustainability reasons, the national team has been using the reusable bottles from previous tournaments instead of disposable bottles for around a year. At the start of the tournament, these will be replaced by the official EURO2024 drinking bottles.” In fact, pictures show that the Russia bottles have been in use at the DFB for years, most recently in the test matches against Greece (2:1) and Ukraine (0:0). And two years ago in the test against Italy (5:2) in June 2022. During the European Championship at home, the Russia bottles finally had their day.
20:28: Rettig defends sponsorship deal with Nike
DFB managing director Andreas Rettig has once again defended the new sponsorship deal with the American company Nike. “We contacted 13 companies and ultimately negotiated with three of them. What Nike offered was unacceptable. An eight-year contract with a three-digit million euro contract,” explained Rettig after the separation from long-time sponsor Adidas in 2026.
“We cannot explain to our members that this money should be left lying around. And Nike is not a robber’s den. The money helps the development of football in Germany,” said the 61-year-old on Tuesday evening during the “Rheinische Post” Euro talk: “It’s not like the managing director gets a pay rise.” He is also a child of Adidas, said Rettig. “But there was pressure on the boiler in terms of the economic situation,” he said. We have to get rid of this patriotism. “Anyone who doesn’t drive a VW is not a traitor to the fatherland,” said Rettig.
17:04: Pavlovic and the almonds – a never-ending story
National coach Julian Nagelsmann will have to continue to do without Aleksandar Pavlovic in preparation for the opening match of the European Championship against Scotland. The 20-year-old midfielder was also absent from the national team’s training session on Tuesday morning in Herzogenaurach due to an infection. This means that he will probably not be able to play in the opening match on Friday. Sky also reported on Tuesday that Pavlovic will miss the match against Scotland.
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The Bayern professional had already had to forego a possible DFB debut in March due to tonsillitis. At the national team’s media day, Pavlovic reported that he was considering having a tonsillectomy after the European Championships because of the frequent infections.
15:32: Orban in high-risk encounter against Germany
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Chancellor Olaf Scholz will be watching the German national team’s European Championship match against Hungary in Stuttgart on June 19. The Baden-Württemberg State Ministry confirmed the travel plans on Tuesday. Orbán will also attend his national team’s second match in Stuttgart on June 23 against Scotland.
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According to Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens), high-ranking guests from the teams’ respective countries are also expected to attend other games and receptions.
The two games between Hungary and Germany and Scotland are considered high-risk matches by the security forces. Four preliminary round matches and a quarter-final are to take place in Stuttgart. The first group match between Slovenia and Denmark is scheduled for June 16, and three days later hosts Germany will face Hungary. The Ukrainian national team will play against Belgium in Stuttgart on June 26.
14:11: “We are responsible for the mood in the country,” says Kroos
For Toni Kroos, it is very important that the German national players deal sensibly with the special pressure of the home European Championship. “A home tournament is even more special. We have a great responsibility for the mood in the country in the next few weeks. Knowing this pressure, we have to try to enjoy the whole thing,” said the 34-year-old from Real Madrid shortly before the opening match against Scotland this Friday (9 p.m., in the WELT sports ticker) in Munich.
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Kroos returned to the DFB team in March and will end his professional career after the tournament. He could play a maximum of seven games if the German team advances to the final on July 14 in Berlin. “We are capable of beating any team,” said Kroos. At the moment, however, he is only thinking about the first group match. “The game against Scotland will not be decisive, but it will be important. We have to be there,” said the 2014 world champion. The other opponents in the group stage are Hungary and Switzerland.
13:02: Gosens in new role at EM
Robin Gosens will work as an expert for MagentaTV during the European Championships. The 29-year-old Union Berlin defender did not make it into national coach Julian Nagelsmann’s squad. “I’m looking forward to this European Championship in my own country! After I was not nominated, it was clear to me that I would still follow the European Championships as a fan. When the request came from MagentaTV, I quickly realized that I wanted to try out being an expert,” said Gosens.
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He doesn’t shy away from his own colleagues either. Gosens will make his first appearance on Friday evening at the start of the tournament, which will see the opening match between hosts Germany and Scotland in Munich, with moderator Johannes B. Kerner and Michael Ballack. Gosens has also played in the Netherlands and, above all, in Italy during his career. According to media reports, he is about to return to Serie A.
12.38 pm: Next setback for Holland
The Dutch national team has to cope with the next personnel setback shortly before the start of the European Championship. After midfield strategist Frenkie de Jong from FC Barcelona was eliminated from the tournament, Teun Koopmeiners from the Italian Europa League winners Atalanta Bergamo will also miss the European Championship in Germany. The 26-year-old was injured during the warm-up on Monday evening before the final test against Iceland (4:0). Koopmeiners had played a very strong season for Atalanta and was firmly planned by national coach Ronald Koeman as a regular player. In de Jong, Koopmeiners, Mats Wieffer, Marten de Roon and Quinten Timber, the Oranje team is missing five midfielders. De Jong was not fit in time after an ankle injury.
Koeman nominated Ian Maatsen from Dortmund. Maatsen was already in the provisional European Championship squad, but was dropped by Koeman shortly before the start of preparations. The coach left it open whether another player would be called up. The Netherlands will start the European Championship on Sunday in Hamburg against Poland.
11.17 a.m.: Beckenbauer’s widow with a special role
The European Football Championship opens in Germany on Friday. Before the first match against Scotland, there will be a ceremony in the Munich stadium. Heidi Beckenbauer will make a special appearance at the place where her husband’s funeral took place in January. More information here:
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10.40 a.m.: Pole injured while celebrating
The participation of Polish star striker Robert Lewandowski in the European Championship is apparently not in danger. The former FC Bayern Munich striker had to be substituted in the first half of the 2-1 victory in the last friendly against Turkey on Monday evening. However, Poland’s coach Michal Probierz gave a cautious all-clear on Tuesday night: “Robert only has a minor injury and we hope that there will be no problems.”
Karol Swiderski is treated after celebrating his goal
What: REUTERS
The Poles are plagued by major injury concerns ahead of their first European Championship match on Sunday in Hamburg against the Netherlands (3 p.m./RTL and MagentaTV). The situation is apparently much more serious for his strike partner Karol Swiderski from Hellas Verona than for Barcelona star Lewandowski. The 27-year-old twisted his ankle while celebrating his 1-0 goal against the Turks on Monday evening and also had to leave the field early. “Karol sprained his ankle,” said Probierz.
10.32 a.m.: Tah is said to have reached an agreement with FC Bayern
National player Jonathan Tah apparently wants to leave Bayer Leverkusen and join FC Bayern. The central defender of the German football champions has informed the Leverkusen officials of his desire to move, reported the pay-TV broadcaster Sky. The 28-year-old, who is under contract in Leverkusen for another year, is said to have already verbally agreed to a move with the Munich club. He is set to receive a contract with the record champions until 2029.
10.17 a.m.: Lahm takes train instead of helicopter
Tournament director Philipp Lahm will do many things differently on his trip through Germany than Franz Beckenbauer did during the 2006 summer fairytale. “Franz Beckenbauer was rightly celebrated for watching almost all of the games – sometimes only half of the game, and then he took a helicopter to the next location,” said Lahm. “But times change, and everyone has to adapt to that.”
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Lahm continued: “There is a sustainability strategy, and it would not fit in if the tournament director flew from one venue to another by helicopter,” said Lahm. “I will travel these routes by train and watch as many games as possible.” Visiting all ten host cities in the preliminary round is extremely important to him, said the 40-year-old.
