The European Championship tournament kicks off in a few weeks, with fans eagerly awaiting exciting football from Europe’s elite national teams. Germany is set to host the Euros for the third time in their history, previously doing so as West Germany in 1988 and again hosting four games at the historic multinational Euros in 2021. It will be Germany’s first solo hosting duty since the country’s reunification in 1991. As expected, Germany tickets are selling very fast as we approach the kickoff of the 17th European Championship tournament.
Coached by first-year manager Julian Nagelsmann, the hosts look to be crowned champions for the fourth time on home soil, making them only the third host nation to achieve this feat, and the first since France in 1984. A fourth win will also see Germany surpass Spain as the country with the most European Championships in history. Die Mannschaft begins their chase for glory on June 14 as they host Scotland in Group A. The 2014 World Cup winners will also face Hungary and Switzerland in a dicey group and will need to clinch the first or second spot to advance to the knockout rounds.
While Germany is considered favourites to win this group, the Euros have given us their fair share of upsets and disappointments over the years. Will the Germans live up to expectations this time around or are we going to see a repeat of their horrendous 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign, which saw them crash out in the group stage? Here, we preview Germany’s chances of topping Group A, analyzing its strengths and weaknesses, potential lineups, and possible Group Stage outcomes.
Germany’s Form Ahead of the Group Stage Round
Germany will go into the tournament as the 16th-best football nation in the world, according to the latest FIFA rankings. The hosts haven’t been in the best of forms over the years and will hope to begin a new chapter of dominance at this year’s tournament. There’s a sheer level of optimism for this squad since the appointment of Julian Nagelsmann, and although Germany has yet to fully hit their stride under the former Bayern Munich coach, wins against France and the Netherlands have shown that they have what it takes to get it done against the big boys this summer.
Germany’s Strengths and Weaknesses Ahead of the Group Stage Round
Die Mannschaft’s strengths at the Euros will lie heavily on their veteran experience. The return of Toni Kroos to the lineup serves as a big boost for the hosts. The 34-year-old, who recently announced his retirement from football, was a crucial part of Germany’s World Cup-winning team and will give Nagelsmann’s team the much-needed creativity in midfield. Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and forward Thomas Müller are also World Cup-winning remnants on the squad list this year. Although not as explosive as they once were, they are still capable of making game-deciding plays on their respective ends of the pitch.
In addition to the international championship experience, Germany can also count on winners in former Manchester City duo Ilkay Gündogan and Leroy Sané to make an impact in midfield and attack, respectively. Gündogan and Kroos will ensure dominance at the center of the pitch, while Sané’s pace could cause problems for the opponent’s defense. However, the Bayern forward is likely to start on the bench due to his questionable form all season long.
Young talents in the likes of Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, and Arsenal’s Kai Havertz, all of whom have impressed at club level this season, are reliable assets for the hosts this summer. Nagelsmann also has a key player in Robert Andrich, who will likely be the hosts’ first-choice holding midfielder. The Bayer Leverkusen player has been in fine form this season and could fit into the role of Sami Khedira, a player Germany has struggled to replace since his retirement.
The hosts’ greatest weakness on paper will be on the defensive end, with a probable starting lineup of Jonathan Tah, Antonio Rüdiger, Maximilian Mittelstädt, and Joshua Kimmich a far cry from Germany’s juggernaut defense over the years. Only Rüdiger and Kimmich are top defenders, and while Tah has excelled for Bayer Leverkusen this season, he hasn’t done it for Germany on a stage as big as the Euros.
Group-stage opponents can expect Nagelsmann to prefer a 4-2-3-1 formation, with this starting lineup:
Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer
Defenders: Jonathan Tah (CB), Antonio Rüdiger (CB), Maximilian Mittelstädt (LB), Joshua Kimmich (RB)
Midfielders: Robert Andrich (DMF), Toni Kroos (CMF), Ilkay Gündogan (AMF)
Forwards: Florian Wirtz (LWF), Jamal Musiala (RWF), Kai Havertz (CF)
Germany vs Group A Opponents
Germany are favourites to clinch the top spot in Group A, while a worst-case scenario could see them qualify as runners-up. However, they will have some work to do to earn a spot in the Round of 16.
The first game against 39th-ranked Scotland shouldn’t pose many problems, with the Germans being superior on all fronts, including coaching. The defensive injuries and lack of prolific forwards have also not helped Scotland’s case. However, Nagelsmann and his team will be careful not to underestimate Steve Clarke’s men who were impressive throughout their qualifying campaign, winning five, including an impressive victory against Spain, drawing two games, with their only defeat against La Roja in the return leg. Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has particularly been in fine scoring form for his country, with seven goals and one assist in eight Euro qualifying rounds played.
Up next is a game against Hungary on June 19, a match that has the potential to seal their fate as potential knockout-stage candidates. Hungary went through the Euro Qualifiers unbeaten thanks largely to their all-out attacking style of play and hope to continue their unbeaten streak this summer. A win against Germany will make a statement as they seek to win Group A as they did in 2016. Considering their good record against Germany plus the hosts’ weak defensive links, Hungary has the potential to cause an upset.
Germany’s final Group Stage game will see them take on Switzerland, who are a stubborn defensive side. However, their inconsistent form caused them to finish second in one of the easiest groups at the Euro Qualifiers, and we could see the same trend of patchy performances on June 23. Germany has a forward lineup that is strong enough to break Switzerland’s sturdy backline and should win this game all things being equal.
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