With under a week until the European Championship 2020 gets underway, the footballing world is already ecstatic about the competition. The likes of France, England and defending champions Portugal are being tagged as favourites to secure the crown this year. Still, the fallen giants of Europe in Germany are perhaps the most interesting heading into the Euro, knowing they simply cannot afford to produce another underwhelming in a major tournament.
In this feature, the 4th Official takes a look at Germany’s chances in the upcoming Euro 2020 and whether or not they will be able to restore their former glory, following disappointments in the 2016 Euro and 2018 FIFA World Cup.
A Complete Preview Of Germany In Euro 2020
Form Heading Into The Tournament
Following the group stage exit from the 2018 World Cup, Germany made the decision to rebuild their team with young players. The move, though, backfired and Die Mannschaft haven’t performed all too well heading into this tournament, especially after receiving a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Spain in the UEFA Nations League.
Germany also lost to North Macedonia 2-1 in the qualifying stage of the 2022 World Cup. As for the more recent affairs, the nation’s first of the friendlies before Euro 2020 saw them draw with Denmark before securing a thumping 7-1 win over Latvia. The win should give the team a world of confidence heading into the tournament.
The Coach
Joachim Loew’s is perhaps the one to blame for his gamble with young players and treating the job in a club-centric manner. It was followed by a poor run of results that has ultimately forced the former Stuttgart coach to announce his resignation after Euro 2020, meaning this will be his seventh and final major competition since he initially took the job in 2006.
During his time as the head coach of the national team, Loew has won the 2014 FIFA World Cup as well as the 2017 Confederations Cup. The 61-year-old will now hope to end his long spell with Germany on a positive note by securing his first European Championship title, especially after being beaten by France in the semi-final in 2016.
Key Players
Germany have a lot of quality players in their ranks, so it is hard to pick a proper key player. However, Thomas Muller will be pretty important after being recalled to the national team by Loew. The Bayern Munich forward adds that sharpness and creativity that was missing in the attack.
In midfield, the onus will be on Toni Kroos to lead his team from the middle of the park. He is a central figure to Germany’s possession-based football, although Ilkay Gundogan and Joshua Kimmich will be equally key to Germany’s chances.
And finally, in the defensive unit, the return of Mats Hummels has already served as a massive boon for Joachim Loew. The veteran defender will be tasked with the responsibility of marshalling the back-three, with his experience likely to play a crucial role in Germany’s last line of press.
Strengths
Germany under Loew are a possession-based team that like to dominate the opposition by keeping the ball. They are very good at it as well, thanks to technically gifted players all around the park, including the likes of Hummels, Kroos, Kimmich and Gundogan.
In addition to ball retention, Die Mannschaft have one of the best creative units in the competition. Indeed, they can create chances at will, thanks to the presence of crafty individuals like Serge Gnabry, Thomas Muller and Kai Havertz, among many others, all of whom are capable of breaching the opposition with his movements, passing and vision in the final third.
Weaknesses
Despite the creativity, Germany lack the services of proper goalscoring forward. The likes of Muller and Werner are not viewed as lethal options upfront, and it will be a cause for concern for Joachim Loew, as he relies on his wingers and creators to offer productivity in the final third.
Moreover, the Germans are very weak in the defensive unit, particularly in the fullback department. None of their options in Lukas Klostermann, Marcel Halstenberg, Robin Gosens or Christian Gunter are good enough to make them compete with the likes of France, Portugal or any other top teams in the tournament.
The Tactical View Of Germany In Euro 2020
As mentioned previously, Germany love to dominate possession, use their technical superiority to run rings around the opposition defence. However, there are certain risks and sacrifices Loew needs to make in order to address his side’s defensive problems.
One major issue, as pointed out earlier, is the lack of quality in the fullback department. Fortunately for Die Mannschaft, Robin Gosens, the wingback, has been performing really well. But the problem remains on the opposite flank, where Klostermann is simply not good enough to make Germany favourites to win the Euro 2020.
Loew, as a result, might have to sacrifice Joshua Kimmich in the right-back position. The Bayern Munich star has played in that slot in the past and is certainly a better option than Klostermann due to his technical superiority, positional discipline and creative prowess. This little tactical decision could go a long way in helping the 2014 World champions become triumphant once again in this tournament.
One Player To Watch Out For
For the Germany squad, the spotlight will certainly be on the likes of Kroos, Muller and Hummels. However, one player worth keeping an eye on for Die Mannschaft is Kai Havertz.
The Chelsea forward, who starred in the Champions League final, tends to perform well for the national team, where he is accompanied by technically astute players. Loew’s quick build-up method is also ideally suited to Havertz’s style of play, so it won’t be surprising to see the youngster outshine the likes of Gnabry and Sane in the wide attacking position and make a name for himself in Euro 2020.
Prediction For Germany In Euro 2020
Germany have been drafted into the Group of Death, featuring France, Portugal and Hungary. It appears unlikely that Joachim Loew’s men will be able to outshine France in the group stages. Still, they are expected to at least overcome the challenge of Portugal, even though A Selecao boast one of the best teams in the tournament.
The 4th Official predicts Germany to finish second in Group F and reach as far as the semi-final, just like they did in the 2016 Euro. They might even be able to secure third place but are not good enough to win the tournament.
