How will Germany line up under Julian Nagelsmann at Euro 2024?
Toni Kroos has been tempted out of international retirement ahead of UEFA Euro 2024 and Julian Nagelsmann looks to have settled on a winning formula that gets the best out of Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, as well as Kai Havertz. So, how will Germany line up this summer?
Now seven games into his tenure, statement victories over France and the Netherlands suggest Nagelsmann's side have struck upon something capable of making the hosts serious contenders to lift the Euro 2024 trophy.
Those wins followed a pair of lacklustre defeats in November, which were preceded by a win and a draw over the USA and Mexico, respectively, in Nagelsmann's first outings as national team head coach.
With the tournament now just a week away, Nagelsmann has named his preliminary squad of 27 - one player will be dropped from the group before the competitions starts. The head coach has clearly based his selection on his tenure so far and fielded a pretty much expected formation and line-up - given the players available - in their penultimate warm-up match against Ukraine.
Looking back at it now, there has been a clear evolution in the side during the 'three stages of Nagels'.
The opening matches - a 3-1 victory over USA, followed by a 2-2 draw with Mexico - very much appeared to be feelers, with Hansi Flick’s successor getting to know what exactly he was working with. Both 4-2-3-1 and 4-2-2-2 formations were deployed, with Jonathan Tah and Niklas Süle used as makeshift right-backs, Robin Gosens starting from the left in each game and Havertz getting just 28 minutes from the bench.
What's Your Reaction?
