Germany should feel no pressure, says Nagelsmann

Germany are still far from tournament-ready less than three months before the start of Euro 2024 on home soil but coach Julian Nagelsmann said the team does not feel under pressure. The Germans face France in a friendly today before hosting the Dutch three days later.
Nagelsmann, who took over following the sacking of Hansi Flick in September, has had a mixed start with a win and a draw during a US trip in October followed by two straight losses in Austria and at home against Turkiye in November. “In the last two games we had maybe too many attack-minded players on the pitch,” Nagelsmann told a press conference.
“This week we worked well in training and I am confident we will deliver a good performance tomorrow. On the issue of pressure, I have to repeat that these are things brought in from the outside. This pseudo pressure is not about life or death.”
The four-times world champions, have had little success internationally since their 2014 World Cup victory, and have been eliminated early in their last three tournaments. They crashed out in the first round at the last two World Cups and were eliminated in the round of 16 at the European Championship three years ago.
Success-starved German fans have grown impatient ahead of the tournament starting in Germany on June 14 with the hosts facing Scotland. “The pressure we have is the pressure to be successful but all the rest is just issues brought in from outside. Sporting success is one part of life but I will not go crazy over something that has been fun for me since the age of three,” Nagelsmann said. “We would be wise to enjoy the game. We have two important games, then a key two-month phase for the coaches and then it’s off to the Euros.”
The Germans will also play Ukraine in Nuremberg on June 3 before taking on Greece in Moenchengladbach four days later in their last friendly matches before the start of the Euros. “I don’t like the pressure and the ‘what-if we lose’. Life is grand and football is a part of it and always fun. It’s football, not politics, or a major decision affecting 30,000 workers,” Nagelsmann said. “It’s football and it should awaken emotions. We will try to win and if not we will try again on Tuesday.”
Nagelsmann insisted that Manuel Neuer remains the team’s number one goalkeeper for Euro 2024 despite not having played an international match since their disastrous 2022 World Cup campaign. “The decision has been made,” said Nagelsmann when asked if the injury-hit Bayern Munich goalkeeper had forced a rethink ahead of this summer’s European championships which Germany will host.
Nagelsmann has already informed Neuer and deputy Marc-Andre ter Stegen of his decision. However, Barcelona goalkeeper Ter Stegen will start today’s friendly against France in Lyon after 37-year-old Neuer suffered a leg injury in training.
“Neuer got injured, but it’s just a small tear. He won’t be away from the sport for eight months. It will be just 10 days and then he’ll have the possibility of returning,” added the coach. “We are lucky to have a second goalkeeper of exceptional quality who will be able to play two matches (on Saturday and against the Netherlands on Tuesday).”
Neuer, who has 117 caps and was part of the 2014 World Cup winning team, last played for Germany at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar where the team was knocked out in the group stages. He then broke his leg shortly after and missed almost a year of football. Ter Stegen, 31, has 38 caps and recently celebrated his 400th appearance for Barcelona. He has been the starting keeper for Germany since the start of 2023.

Berlin says German FA lacks ‘patriotism’ for dropping Adidas
The German national football team’s decision to drop Adidas as its kit supplier sparked dismay in Berlin on Friday, with the economy minister blasting the switch to US sportswear giant Nike for its lack of “patriotism”.
Economy Minister Robert Habeck described the pairing of the company’s trademark stripes and the national flag colours as a “piece of German identity”.
The DFB on Thursday said its partnership with Adidas – spanning more than 70 years and four World Cup triumphs – would stop at the end of 2026. From 2027, Germany’s footballers will wear jerseys manufactured by the sportswear giant Nike.