The DFB Team's Crusade Against Portugal: Hunting History at Home in the Euro Minis
Adept DFB Player Strives for Long-Awaited First Title in Eleven Years During Mini Home European Championship
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Gear up football fans! The German national team is locked and loaded, taking on Portugal in the Nations League semi-finals. Despite a couple of personal issues, coach Julian Nagelsmann is determined to claim the title in this Final Four, which is also crucial for the 2026 World Cup.
What's Cooking with the DFB Team?
The German national football team is no stranger to the Final Four in the Nations League, having played in it four times. In this year's semi-final on June 4th (9 PM CEST/ZDF, DAZN), they'll square off against Portugal in Munich. Following suit, European champions Spain and World Cup runners-up France will face off in Stuttgart on June 5th (9 PM CEST/ARD, DAZN). The losing teams will battle it out for third place on June 8th in Stuttgart (3 PM CEST), while the championship showdown will take place in Munich on the same day (9 PM CEST/RTL, RTL+, and live on ntv.de).
Past Winners
Portugal took home the trophy in the inaugural tournament in 2019, besting the Netherlands (1-0) at home with Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Two years later, France triumphed over Spain in Italy (2-1), and in 2023, Spain beat Croatia in the Netherlands (5-4 on penalties). Other teams that have been in the Final Four include Italy, England, Belgium, and Switzerland – the German team is making its debut this time around.
Germany's Shot at Glory
Nagelsmann views the Nations League as just a stepping stone toward the main goal of winning the 2026 World Cup, referring to it as a "little title." However, he makes it clear that he's gunning for the win, and he believes his team is more than capable of taking down Portugal. Against the Portuguese, he puts it plainly: "We've got to give it our all, just like we did against Italy (2-1/3-3)." Nagelsmann is battling some personnel issues, with numerous key players sidelined.
The Injury Report
The German team has experienced several injuries, forcing Nagelsmann to make significant lineup adjustments compared to the quarter-final rematch against Italy in March. Defenders Antonio Rüdiger and Nico Schlotterbeck, as well as attackers Jamal Musiala and Tim Kleindienst are unavailable. "Losing all these guys is just devastating," said the coach. Kai Havertz is also out again, and additional short-term absences include Jonathan Burkardt, Angelo Stiller, Nadiem Amiri, and Yann-Aurel Bisseck.
Stepping Up
Nagelsmann welcomes two new players: future Bayern pro Tom Bischof and Stuttgart sensation Nick Woltemade. Waldemar Anton, Serge Gnabry, Robin Gosens, Felix Nmecha, Aleksandar Pavlovic, and Niclas Füllkrug rejoin the team.
The Ones to Watch
Naturally, the spotlight will be on Florian Wirtz, whose future remains uncertain after Bayern bosses tried to snag him as their marquee signing. The 22-year-old seems to be leaning toward joining English champions FC Liverpool instead, with the possible transfer fee reportedly up to 150 million euros. Following the setback of injured star Musiala, Nagelsmann is excited about the "magician" Wirtz, who missed the quarterfinal against Italy due to injury: "Flo is the most extraordinary player besides Jamal. He'll hopefully charm us with his slick moves in the game."
On the Coaching Front
This will mark the final appearance of Sandro Wagner as Nagelsmann's co-trainer. As the national team coach recently extended his contract until the 2028 European Championship, Wagner, who is the same age, will move on from the national team after the mini-EM. The former professional aims to become a head coach himself and will achieve this at Bundesliga club FC Augsburg. Wagner's successor for the national team is already known. Ex-professional Benjamin Hübner, who has been co-trainer at TSG Hoffenheim so far, will join Nagelsmann during national team games in the future.
Germany's Record Against Portugal
Germany has given Portugal nightmares, with a record of 11 wins, 5 draws, and only 3 victories for the Portuguese – the last one being at the 2000 European Championship, when Lothar Matthäus was still playing for Germany.
The Portuguese Lineup
Portugal boasts veteran star Ronaldo, Munich's João Palhinha, and 18-year-old sensation Rodrigo Mora from FC Porto. Spain brings young star Lamine Yamal and 17 other European champions, while France offers captain Kylian Mbappé, Bayern star Michael Olise, and seven Champions League finalists including Ousmane Dembélé.
What's at Stake
With the World Cup just a year away, the Nations League title aims to serve as a sporting boost for the first XXL edition featuring 48 teams in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. A win for the German team would secure enough points for the World Ranking to almost guarantee a spot in the top pot for the World Cup draw. A loss against Portugal, though, could lead to tough opponents like Spain, Argentina, France, or England in the World Cup group stage. The Final Four is also financially rewarding, with the DFB receiving 2.25 million euros as an A-league participant, along with the same amount for finishing first in the group phase. The final appearance would bring in another 4.5 million euros, and a victory in the Nations League for the first time would net six million euros.
Source: ntv.de, kfe/sid/dpa
Insights:
- Predictions suggest that Germany is expected to win the match, with some estimates indicating a score like 2-1 in favor of Germany[5].
- Germany showed impressive form during the Euros, narrowly losing to Spain in the quarterfinals. This experience has helped solidify their position as a strong contender in European football[5].
- Portugal recently overcame Denmark with a 5-3 aggregate score to reach the semi-finals, demonstrating their resilience and talent[5]. However, Germany's home advantage and recent form are viewed as significant factors in their favor.
- As of recent updates, Germany won the semi-final match against Portugal with a score of 1-1, advancing to the final due to a penalty shootout or possibly other tiebreaker methods are not detailed in the available results, but the match was closely contested[3][4].
In light of Germany's upcoming match against Portugal in the Nations League semi-finals, it's crucial for the DFB team to adhere to both community policy and employment policy to ensure a focused and harmonious squad. As football enthusiasts, let's hope the team's camaraderie is as strong as their skills on the pitch, reminiscent of the excitement and sportsmanship witnessed in European leagues. Furthermore, a victory in this tournament could prove significant for Germany's employment policy, as a strong performance could potentially attract more talented players from across Europe to join the team.
