Germany might have beaten Greece, but the performance wasn’t inspiring. The players hope fans will deliver a more constant support, with the European Championships around the corner.
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At the end of a week when the conversation around the Germany team had largely been about identity and the possible repeat of another summer fairy tale, Julian Nagelsmann's side were met with boos after a disappointing 45 minutes against Greece.
"Of course I can understand the fans being angry," Benjamin Henrichs said afterward. "I think the way it was in the second half, when they cheered us on on the field, it's better for us and there's a sense of community, and that we also go through tough times together."
Germany won the game, with Pascal Gross scoring late to seal a 2-1 victory. The performance though was not that of a team looking to sweep a nation off its feet. It was unconvincing, perhaps even a little unsettling seven days before the start of the tournament, and leaves a lot of questions unanswered.
Manuel Neuer made three fantastic saves, but his second error in the space of five days handed Greece an early lead. Robert Andrich was a little foul-happy, and Jamal Musiala admitted himself that he lost possession more than he usually would.
"I won't let any discussion arise, even if everyone tries to start one," Nagelsmann told RTL afterwards when asked about Neuer and a possible change in goal.
Even though criticism of Nagelsmann’s tactics will be inevitable, his leadership so far has been impressive. His selection has been bold and offered a fresh twist to a side that was going stale.
"They [Andrich and Deniz Undav] are the type of players no one reckoned with and yet still believed in themselves,” said central defender Jonathan Tah. Goalscorer Gross is another who took the long road to the top, and perhaps that approach is bringing this team closer together.
Nagelsmann’s work extends beyond the field too. As part of their Euro 2024 preparation, the team spent some time with the special forces in an attempt to learn more about communication and teamwork. More recently, this week they had a visit from Gordon Herbert, Germany’s basketball coach. Herbert guided Germany to sensational success at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, where they won gold.
His visit was a sign that perhaps this team is more connected to the current Zeitgeist than previous teams, such as the 2022 World Cup squad who famously watched a video about how grey geese work together. This current iteration of the Germany team is connecting with success stories that speak to the playing group in a way that is more likely to create a sense of belonging and purpose.
"We work well together, communicate and there’s a lot more togetherness than before," Tah said. "It’s a diverse group of characters that gets on well together and wants to be successful."
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More than fairweather fans wanted
On the evidence of this final week ahead of the Euros, the definition of that success might have shifted but the overall feeling is that this group remains united. What they clearly hope is that the public stay the same.
The Euro 2024 stadiums
Germany hosts Euro 2024 from June 14 to July 14. The tournament is being being held at 10 venues, with the final to be played in Berlin.
Image: Arno Burgi/picture alliance / dpa
Berlin
Berlin's Olympic Stadium is something of a German Wembley. Originally constructed for the 1936 Olympic Games, it has been the home of Hertha Berlin since 1963. The stadium has hosted the final of the German Cup, the DFB Pokal, since 1985 and was also the venue for both the 2006 World Cup final and 2015 Champions League final. Its next major final will be on July 14 for the Euros.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/O. Lang
Munich
It may look like a UFO has landed next to the motorway in Munich but it is in fact the home of German giants Bayern Munich since 2005. Its outer scales light up red when Bayern are at home and can be lit up in the national colors when Germany plays here. Built for the 2006 World Cup, it will host the Euro 2024 opener on June 14 and one of the semifinals.
Image: DW/A.Götzmann
Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund's stadium, still known by many fans as the Westfalenstadion, is the biggest football ground in Germany with a total capacity of 81,360 – although this will be reduced to just 62,000 for the Euros. In the 2006 World Cup, Germany were beaten in the semifinal here by Italy and it will host the other 2024 semifinal.
Image: picture-alliance/SvenSimon
Leipzig
Leipzig, the city where the German Football Association (DFB) was founded in 1900 and home to the first ever German champions, VfB Leipzig, in 1903, is also represented. The new arena was built ahead of the 2006 World Cup inside the bowl of the historic Zentralstadion. In 2010, it was renamed and became the home of RB Leipzig. Three group games and a round-of-16 match will be played here.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/J. Woitas
Cologne
Built on the foundations of the old Müngersdorfer Stadion, Cologne's stadium was built for the 2006 World Cup. The four corner pillars light up the night sky. Cologne's home ground will have a capactiy of 43,000 for the Euros. Four group stage matches and a round of 16 game will be played here during Euro 2024.
Image: picture-alliance/ULMER
Gelsenkirchen
Schalke's home stadium sits atop a hill in the north of Gelsenkirchen. Now named after a beer producer, it can accommodate 50,000 for the Euros. Its retractable roof can come into play during bad weather. The arena was a World Cup venue in 2006. It is also used to host other events like concerts, and is another ground that will host three group games and a last-16 clash at the Euros.
This ground, like so many in Germany, has carried a string of sponsors' names in recent years. But now it's back to its original title, that roughly translates (Volksparkstadion) as the People's Park Stadium. Opened in 2000, the stadium can has a capacity of 49,000 for the Euros and will host a quarterfinal as well as group-stage games.
Image: picture-alliance/HOCH ZWEI/P. Szyza
Frankfurt
It's no surprise that the stadium in Frankfurt made the cut and will host a round of 16 game as well as group stage matches. It will have a capacity of 47,000 for European Championship matches. Germany's financial capital on the River Main already attracts more than its fair share of foreign visitors, and is also where Germany's football federation has its headquarters.
Image: dpa
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf was perhaps the biggest loser in 2006 when the World Cup venues were announced. Despite a newly renovated stadium, the city went empty-handed while local rivals Cologne got the nod. The ground is a cauldron inside, although it resembles a giant DIY store from the outside. One of the Euro 2024 quarterfinals is to be played here.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/R. Weihrauch
Stuttgart
There is a lot to be happy about football-wise in Stuttgart right now. VfB Stuttgart's stunning Bundesliga season, when they finished second, is being followed by the city's partly renovated stadium hosting Euro 2024 games. The first quarterfinal takes place here. It boasts a capacity of 51,000 for the tournament.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/I. Kjer
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"It's going to be a long tournament and we need support in every game," Musiala said afterwards. "We're going to have bad phases sometimes and that's when they [the fans] have to stick with us. We'll do everything we can to make the fans proud."
The friendlies are over. The squad is set. The players will enjoy a weekend off before they head to base camp. The next seven days will be full of predictions, pontifications and presumptions as the country’s excitement about a summer filled with so much promise builds. Fever pitch approaches, even if the team did little to spark it into life this week. Now, after failing to do so at the last three major tournaments, Germany have to make sure they win their opening game. After that, support will likely spread across the country and whistling at halftime will be unimaginable.