June 20 – They have the youngest coach in the tournament and the oldest average age squad, a combination that is so far working extremely well.
But Julian Nagelsmann says he is only thinking of winning the next match and not looking ahead after hosts Germany became the first side to reach the knockout phase at Euro 2024.
Nagelsmann lauded what he called an amazing atmosphere at the tournament on home soil after the 2-0 win over Hungary on Wednesday.
“It was very loud in the stadium – that just gives you a good feeling,” he said. “That helps us, which is hard to believe because we have such incredibly experienced and successful players but it does something with you. It moves you. It’s our task to let the fans keep dreaming.”
With six points, the Germans will finish top of the group if they avoid defeat against Switzerland on Sunday.
Nagelsmann had special words for rising star Jamal Musiala who has scored in both of Germany’s matches so far, saying he should ignore the pressure and be unafraid to take players on.
“He should just play like he’s on a small pitch anywhere in Germany or England, it doesn’t matter,” Nagelsmann said. “He should just play football with his friends. He shouldn’t think about the pressure, he’s just brilliant playing football.”
While few will have bet against the home side beating Hungary, it was in fact Germany’s first competitive win against them since the 1954 World Cup final
Nagelsmann said the victory showed the kind of progress his squad has made over the past year. “There were moments we had to persevere but that’s a process of maturing.”
Much has been made of Nagelsmann ushering in a new generation of exciting talent and the likes of Musiala and Florian Wirtz, both 21.
But based on the average age of the squads Germany has the oldest group at the tournament, with 10 of the 26 members aged 30 or older.
“It’s always good to have a good mix in your team between experienced players and young, talented players,” Nagelsmann, himself only 36, said. “I think it’s important that the young players are open minded, listen to the older players with experience, to improve.
“We have some experienced players in the squad. They have all experienced different situations, have solutions for different situations, especially when you talk about pressure, when you talk about situations to deal with on the pitch and off the pitch.”
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