Preparations for the big task picked up speed on Tuesday morning. After two days of mostly free time, national coach Julian Nagelsmann asked his national football team to train again in the team quarters on the Adidas site in Herzogenaurach.
On Friday (6 p.m., ARD and MagentaTV) his team will face Spain in the quarter-finals of the European Championship in Stuttgart. With the exception of Emre Can, who has muscular problems and trained individually, all players took part in the session on Tuesday.
“It will be a very exciting game for everyone in the world,” said offensive star Leroy Sané after training. Before the eagerly awaited match against the title favorite, WELT answers the most important questions.
Will Nagelsmann switch to a three-man defense against Spain?
In the first four tournament games, the 36-year-old used a back four as the defensive formation of his starting eleven. During the round of 16 match against Denmark (2-0), he switched to a back three. Against the strong attacking Spaniards, a back three could be a good option from the start.
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However, a change in system would be a massive change – and therefore also a risk. “I don’t see us playing with a five-man or three-man chain,” said right-back Joshua Kimmich on Monday afternoon.
Tendency: Nagelsmann sticks with his back four.
Will David Raum remain left-back?
Maximilian Mittelstädt played from the start in the first three matches, against Denmark Nagelsmann swapped the VfB Stuttgart professional for David Raum. The RB Leipzig defender impressed and was involved in one goal. He has strengths in attack, his style of play sometimes seems more mature – no wonder, Mittelstädt has only played seven international matches, Raum 23.
Lothar Matthäus is Germany’s record international player with 150 international matches. The 63-year-old writes in his Sky column that Mittelstädt “played an excellent season.”
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However, Raum is “the more robust and dynamic type of player who has improved enormously in his defensive behaviour, who crosses better and, in my opinion, makes a better impression, especially against the speed that the Spaniards have on the wing.” Tendency: Space plays.
Who will form the central defense with Antonio Rüdiger?
Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen was suspended after receiving two yellow cards in the round of 16, and Nico Schlotterbeck from Borussia Dortmund replaced him. Schlotterbeck lost a ball in his own penalty area, but otherwise played convincingly. Matthäus thinks Tah did everything right beforehand and had an outstanding season in Leverkusen. “That’s why I believe in a central defense with Tah and Antonio Rüdiger.” Nagelsmann is actually very convinced of Tah.
Tendency: Tah is playing.
Does Leroy Sané have to go back to the bench?
The FC Bayern attacking star had to deal with pubic bone problems before and at the start of the tournament. He played against Denmark for the first time at this European Championship, and young star Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen stayed out in his place. Sané only had 31 ball contacts – as many as goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. He did not have a shot on goal, and his tackle rate was 40 percent.
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“It was Leroy’s first game in a long time. He did much better in the second half,” said Nagelsmann. He repeatedly praises the depth of Sané’s game and his speed – but recently made it clear that he had expected a little more from the 28-year-old against Denmark.
Will Sané play again? 13 to 14 players have been identified who will get more playing time, said Nagelsmann. Training performance is also a decisive factor, and another factor is the approach, depending on the opponent.
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Radical restructuring
After the long and successful season with Leverkusen, Wirtz recently seemed tired. When Nagelsmann substituted him against Denmark, the 21-year-old tried a lot, seemed fresher – and was unlucky with an offside goal. “He is an outstanding footballer. Everyone wants to see him,” said Rudi Völler, sports director of the German Football Association (DFB).
Sané himself said at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon that he hoped he would play and “can help the team.” He felt good and was not in pain. With his style of play, he “brings runs behind the chain to open up the space in the middle.”
Tendency: Sané has to go back to the bench, Wirtz starts against Spain.
Will Kai Havertz remain the number one striker?
Before the round of 16, Nagelsmann stuck with the Arsenal striker, even though many fans and experts had called for Niclas Füllkrug to be the starting striker. Havertz scored the 1-0 goal against Denmark with a penalty, missed scoring opportunities after that, but is very important for the team and often uses his teammates very well.
David Raum – “When Grandma calls, you don’t hang up”
Sports reporter Christian Beilfuß explains what the mood is like within the DFB team and how much the players value each other. There are also insights into the lives of the players, for example how important David Raum’s relationship with his grandparents is.
Source: WELT TV/ Carsten Hädler
“Kai has a clear job, which means that he doesn’t have a lot of ball action because he should create space for others. He did that exceptionally well,” Nagelsmann emphasised before the win against Denmark. “For a striker, it’s not always just about scoring a goal.”
Füllkrug brings a lot of emotion and power to the game after being substituted, his 13 goals in 20 games for Germany are an impressive record. Füllkrug’s strength as a joker is both a blessing and a curse for the Borussia Dortmund professional.
Tendency: Havertz starts again, Füllkrug comes on as a substitute.
