Hosts Germany are riding a wave of hope ahead of their Euro 2024 opening match against Scotland, just days away.
Germany suffered two consecutive group stage exits at the 2021 World Cup and then a defeat to England in the last 16 of the Euros, before having a dismal 2023 season with just three wins from 11 games.
Many in Germany expected the three-time Euros champions to suffer an embarrassing early exit from their home tournament, but that view has changed in the space of four months.
Germany were held to a 0-0 draw with Ukraine in Nuremberg on Monday but were dominated, especially in the second half, but missed chances.
“Obviously you want to win,” coach Julian Nagelsmann said after the match, “but the most important thing is that the team wants to win, and today we wanted that win.”
Germany was without four players, including key player Toni Kroos, who played against Real Madrid in last Saturday's Champions League final.
Debutant striker Maximilian Baier came close to breaking the deadlock, while youngsters Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala showed they can form a dangerous attacking pairing.
Nagelsmann's other selected players, including Stuttgart's Chris Führich and Maximilian Mittelstedt, also impressed, suggesting the coach has his team on the right track ahead of the tournament.
Improved form on the pitch and optimism off it will bolster Nagelsmann's team as they seek a fourth Euros title which would break the record for most titles won with Spain.
Germany face Greece in their final friendly on Friday in Monchengladbach but will face a tougher test if they hope to progress to the Euros finals.
– Perfect preparation –
Nagelsmann, who took over as manager in late 2023 after Hansi Flick became the first manager in Germany's history to be sacked, managed just one win in his first four games in charge.
The manager has responded by revamping his squad, dropping 11 players and bringing back 2014 World Cup winner Kroos, who retired from international football in 2021.
Rather than relying on big names from powerhouses like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, Nagelsmann's team fielded many players from Bundesliga title-winning Bayer Leverkusen and surprising runners-up Stuttgart.
With Nagelsmann selecting his in-form players, Germany produced convincing performances to beat Euro 2024's two biggest contenders, France and the Netherlands, in March.
Germany will face Scotland, Hungary and Switzerland in the group stage, with the hosts expected to beat all three teams in the upcoming round.
Nagelsmann said the match against Ukraine was “perfect considering what awaits us in the group stage.”
Veteran player Thomas Muller, playing in his fourth Euros, said on Monday there was “no reason to be nervous” despite the goalless draw.
– “Great support” –
After difficult years, the German people welcomed their national team on the eve of the tournament.
Instead of the usual team announcements at stale press conferences, the German Football Association (DFB) took a fresh approach by using TV personalities, influencers and celebrities to share bits and pieces of information about each player, which ultimately attracted new audiences.
Star midfielder Wirtz was announced at a concert by musician Nina Czuba, while Real Madrid defender Antonio Ruediger's selection was made public in a video from his favourite kebab shop in Berlin.
More than 15,000 fans filled a stadium in the central German town of Jena in late May to watch the team train, with another 16,000 tuning in to a live stream.
“I felt the enthusiasm of the crowd for our team and we will carry this fantastic support with us until the tournament,” Nagelsmann told AFP subsidiary SID in late May.
DUI/Criminal Record/Criminal History
