Two names are already out
Why the DFB announces its European Championship squad in such pieces
May 13, 2024, 1:17 p.m
The German Football Association is breaking new ground. Instead of announcing the squad for the home European Championship all at once, there is a name here and a nominee there. This comes with a clear plan.
Grandma Lotti is confused. “That’s you!?” the 93-year-old shouts in horror as her geriatric nurse Rashid Hamid presents the cake with the portrait of European Championship driver Jonathan Tah in a box. When the TikToker and author (“A Heart and Care”) explained to her that this “gentleman” would be playing for Germany at the European Championships, she had the presence of mind to offer a tip: “He has to cut himself!” So: beard off!
In this funny and charming way, national coach Julian Nagelsmann announced the second name from his provisional squad. And the entire football republic immediately asked itself during the European Championship scavenger hunt: Who is next, where and when? The Tagesschau started on Sunday evening at prime time with the surprise Nico Schlotterbeck, and the bit-by-bit announcement using salami tactics will continue on various channels until the official squad announcement on Thursday (1 p.m.) in Berlin.
The idea behind it: Celebrities, fans, influencers like Hamid or media like ARD should generate attention – and increase anticipation for the hoped-for summer fairy tale 2.0. It is of secondary importance if the names, as in the case of the Leverkusen master player Tah, are not unexpected, as long as the presentation with lovable protagonists like Grandma Lotti ensures sympathy.
Nagelsmann has made his standards clear
All the names and films are collected on the DFB’s Instagram page under a golden cup symbol with the title “Kader”. Tagesschau spokesman Jens Riewa can be seen there since Sunday, immediately after the news of a major fire in Warsaw, announcing that Schlotterbeck was going to the European Championships. The Dortmund player has never been called up by Nagelsmann, but he has played his way to the fore, especially in the Champions League, with BVB reaching the final.
“Incredibly grateful to be nominated for the upcoming European Championships in our own country!” he wrote on Instagram. His nomination means that his club colleague Mats Hummels or Frankfurt’s Robin Koch will have to worry about their participation in the tournament (June 14th to July 14th). Especially since defense chief Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid) is next to Tah.
Nagelsmann explained the criteria he uses for his selection in an ARD documentary (“Germany. Football. Summer fairy tale 2024?”) that appeared at the beginning of June. “The mixture” does it! Specifically: “It will be crucial that we have players on the field who like to eat dirt – and players who like to play the final sugar pass.” What is important is that, following the example of the basketball world champions, everyone fully identifies with their role – regardless of whether they are leaders like the returnee Toni Kroos or substitutes like Marc-André ter Stegen.
It’s not just Goretzka who is worried about his European Championship ticket
The duo is certainly there – for many others, Nagelsmann’s scavenger hunt is a guessing game. In addition to Schlotterbeck and Niclas Füllkrug, will there be other Dortmund players? “We would really like to have a slightly larger block than the last nomination,” said coach Edin Terzić. His professionals had “provided enough reasons for more of us to be there,” he emphasized.
Will Nagelsmann, who has to do without the injured Serge Gnabry, remain adamant about Munich’s Leon Goretzka? “I’ve tried everything in my power in the last few months to show my best side,” said Goretzka. What is more likely than his appointment, however, is that another Stuttgart player like Angelo Stiller will come into play.
Even before the exciting March games against France (2:0) and the Netherlands (2:1), Nagelsmann had indicated that he was particularly keeping an eye on the Swabians. And Stiller, said VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß, “has performed really well since the last nomination.”