Tuesday June 22, 2021
What’s next for the DFB?
There are so many ways to win the European Championship
The German national team has the best cards to survive the group stage at the European Football Championship – and then the tournament really starts. In the knockout round, each game can be the last. Even if a lot is still open, simulation and thought games are allowed.
Robin Gosens (according to the public perception) thanks: The German national soccer team made it into the knockout round of the European championship on Wednesday against Hungary (9 p.m. / ARD and in the live ticker on ntv.de) further in hand. The 4: 2 against Portugal, which was definitely able to win back a lot of trust and sympathy from the football people and the associated experts, ensures that everything is possible in “Hammer Group” F for the DFB team on the last matchday of the group stage – literally. Group victory, strong second, trembling third or the preliminary round. An overview of how things could go on after the preliminary round for Joachim Löw’s team.
The thing is clear when Germany loses to Hungary and Portugal scores at least one point against France: Then Germany finishes Group F last, the era of Joachim Löw as national coach comes to an end after 15 years with the greatest possible disaster. Löw had announced that after the EM it would be over for him at the DFB. It would end in horror. However, progress is more likely, as UEFA has already ensured with the increase to 24 teams: 16 of them will survive the group stage.
What will happen if Germany wins the “death group”?
If Germany wins the group, it will continue next Monday (9 p.m.) in Bucharest. Opponents in Romania would be one of the four best thirds in the group. The allocation is based on a key determined in advance by UEFA, which is based on the groups from which the four third parties qualified for the round of 16 come – there were 15 possible scenarios, now there are ten before the last group matches. After all, it is already clear that the way through the tournament for the German team would then lead through a team from groups A, B or C.
Third in Group A and already safely qualified for the round of 16 is Switzerland. In Groups B and C, Finland and Ukraine have to tremble. One of these three teams would be the upcoming opponent in Bucharest – if Germany wins Group F. Finland is next to North Macedonia the greatest possible underdog when they take part in the European Championship for the first time, while Ukraine disappointed in the group stage. And the ambitious Switzerland, which contests the EM with twelve Bundesliga professionals in the squad, is still having a hard time.
In the quarter-finals on July 3 in St. Petersburg, the winner of the encounter between the second in groups D and E would be waiting. The Czechs finished Group D behind England, in Group E, which is still completely open, Spain, which is struggling for form and points, Robert Lewandowski’s Poland and outsider Slovakia can (or must) hope for second place. The Swedes can only be first or third, so they are eliminated as the quarter-final opponents of the German team.
What happens if Germany finishes second in Group F?
In the English capital, the group winners of Group D would wait for the DFB selection: England and the Czech Republic played them in London – and the highly traded but so far rather disappointing English won 1-0. With that, England also secured the home round of 16 at Wembley, the Czechs have to travel. Because the winner of Group D will meet the second of Group F in London next Tuesday. The second Czech Republic and third Croatia are also qualified for the round of 16, but both could only play together for the further course of the European Championship of the German team Play a role in the endgame – if Germany finishes Group F in second place.
In a possible quarter-finals in Rome in the Stadio Olimpico the winner of group E (Sweden, Slovakia or Spain) or a group third from groups A (Switzerland), B (Finland), C (Ukraine) or D (England, Croatia, Scotland, Czech Republic). If successful, the London-Rome route would lead back to London, where – as things stand at the moment – the semi-finals and the final will be played.
In the semifinals, the possible opponent would be Italy, the only one of the title favorites who has so far presented itself as such without restriction. The Italians have been unbeaten in 30 games, they won their preliminary group A with three wins and no goal.
London-Rome-London: It would be the golden route to a successful conclusion to the Löw era. The cities – unlike Bucharest and St. Petersburg – have had a big sound in the history of the DFB: In the Stadio Olimpico, Horst Hrubesch headed Germany to the second European championship title in 1980 with a double pack; “at Wembley for the third continental championship. And in 1966 there was (no) a goal that is still part of German football folklore today. The old Wembley Stadium was demolished in 2003. The last goal ever at this historic site was scored by Dietmar Hamann, in the 1-0 victory of the German national team against England.
Where does it go if Germany continues to tremble as a third party?
After the strong performance against Portugal, with which an idea of euphoria about the national team returned, nobody wants to deal with it, it seems unthinkable, but it is mathematically possible: Germany can also finish third. With a loss of their own against Hungary and a loss for Portugal against France. Then the DFB entourage would either have to travel to Seville to play against the Netherlands on Monday (9 p.m.) – or fly to Budapest to fight Belgium for the quarter-finals. That in turn would at least take place in Munich. There the opponent would then be Italy or Austria. It would be the hardest possible way. But it is in their own hands against Hungary.
.