Antonio Rüdiger, on the other hand, who has been suffering from a strain since the 1-1 draw against Switzerland last Sunday, is fit again and is in the starting lineup as usual. In addition to Schlotterbeck, Nagelsmann has brought two other new players into the starting lineup compared to the Switzerland game: David Raum replaces Maximilian Mittelstädt as left-back, Leroy Sané plays in attacking midfield instead of Florian Wirtz.
“The players who are coming in have earned it through a good week of training,” Nagelsmann said shortly before kick-off on MagentaTV. “They are all decisions for, not against. They are two world-class players. Today we decided on Leroy.” Wirtz and Mittelstädt are “of course” disappointed “that they are not playing from the start,” Nagelsmann said. “Just like Füllkrug. But they took it well.”
Captain İlkay Gündoğan’s participation was not in doubt. He is in the starting eleven as expected. The FC Barcelona player, who once held up the Champions League trophy under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, knows how to win big games. In an interview with Christian Kamp and Christopher Meltzer, he explains which mistakes the national team must now avoid and how success at the European Championships can change the country.
Another player who has long been the focus of the national team but has now moved from right-back to the spotlight is Joshua Kimmich. He wants to finally get rid of the stigma of failure: the loyal professional wants to turn his career around in the national team – but things have changed for him too, write Christian Kamp and Christopher Meltzer.
And the opponent? Danish star Christian Eriksen was so close to death – and still plays a leading role for the Scandinavians. That says a lot about his qualities – and also reveals something about those of his teammates, as Michael Wittershagen writes. National coach Kasper Hjulmand, who once coached 1. FSV Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga, is being heavily criticized in some quarters before the duel with Germany. The reasons are obvious, as Frank Heike reports. But Hjulmand remains calm.
