There are more European Championship winners than losers in the DFB team. Two young stars stand out. Müller’s time is over. And Sané is once again not delivering a tournament moment. Nagelsmann also praises the men who play for the minutes.
The national football team’s biggest trump card with the 2026 World Cup as a new focus is called “Wusiala”. Young stars Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz are among the biggest winners in the squad at the home European Championship. Julian Nagelsmann used 23 players in the five matches up to the quarter-final exit against Spain.
Robin Koch was the only field player who did not play a minute, as were substitute goalkeepers Marc-André ter Stegen and Oliver Baumann. In his tournament summary at the weekend, the national coach spoke of a good squad for the future.
The European Championship report of the DFB kickers according to the different role profiles:
The core team
Jamal Musiala: The best in the German team. Three goals, always a feast for the eyes on the ball, cheered by the fans. The Bayern pro was on his way to becoming a possible top star of the tournament. The Spaniards slowed him down, sometimes with wrestling moves.
Florian Wirtz: The 21-year-old scored Germany’s first goal of the tournament in the 5-1 win against Scotland – and also the last in the quarter-finals. The Leverkusen whirlwind was a little sluggish for a short time. He was the game-changer after coming on as a substitute against Spain.
Joshua Kimmich: Nagelsmann wanted him as a right-back. Kimmich played the entire 480 minutes of the tournament. An asset. The 29-year-old delivered his best performance against Spain, including a header pass to goalscorer Wirtz.
Antonio Rüdiger: The defensive leader and emotional leader. The 31-year-old from Real Madrid played his best tournament. He celebrated some defensive actions like strikers celebrated their goals. Own goal against Scotland. And he allowed Spain’s Merino to score a header to make it 1-2.
Ilkay Gündogan: The 33-year-old went into his first tournament as captain with scepticism. But he quickly dispelled that against Scotland and especially in the 2-0 win against Hungary. The quiet leader was a good organizer of the offense with his experience.
Manuel Neuer: Germany’s record goalkeeper started his eighth tournament as number one, accompanied by justified doubts. He was a strong support when things got tough. Several important saves, four goals conceded through no fault of his own. Nevertheless, ter Stegen’s time may now have come.
Jonathan Tah: The late developer played his first tournament games with Leverkusen’s championship-winning team at the ripe old age of 28. He worked hard to earn a regular place alongside Rüdiger. He was suspended for the round of 16 match against Denmark.
Toni Kroos: The Royal One. His DFB comeback was a key to Nagelsmann’s role play. He started the European Championship as a flawless passing machine, but was unable to maintain that level afterwards. 120 minutes against Spain were too much. He is now retired from football.
Robert Andrich: The man for the rough stuff in midfield. The Leverkusen player was the perfect complement to strategist Kroos. His physicality and strength in tackles were valuable. He also stood out with his unusual hair coloring.
Kai Havertz: He scored twice from the penalty spot. But otherwise: The Arsenal professional missed too many chances, especially against Spain. As a number nine, he fits in with Musiala or Wirtz. But he urgently needs to improve his finishing success rate.
Maximilian Mittelstädt: Nagelsmann’s surprise solution for the problem position at left back started the tournament well. The Stuttgart player then faltered, but came back as a substitute against Spain. Has established himself after eight international matches.
The challengers
Niclas Füllkrug: The top joker and fan favorite. The center forward with the distinctive gap in his teeth is a winner in his own right. His second goal of the tournament against Switzerland led to an explosion of emotions. Against Spain, he was unlucky in the finish, hitting the post instead of going in.
Nico Schlotterbeck: The Dortmund player was given 30 minutes of rhythm against Switzerland. When he then had to replace the suspended Tah in the round of 16 against Denmark, he did a great job in the center of defense. Bad luck: his header goal was disallowed by the VAR.
David Raum: When Mittelstädt’s passing ability became more important, the Leipzig player was there. Füllkrug used his pass to make it 1-1 against Switzerland. He was in the team after that, but he didn’t look good against Spain’s young star Jamine Yamal before the 0-1.
Emre Can: Nominated for the young Munich player Aleksandar Pavlovic and then played four times. The BVB captain got off to a great start with the substitute goal against Scotland. However, Nagelsmann’s plan to have him in the starting eleven against Spain did not work out.
Pascal Groß: The man from Brighton was the back-up for Kroos. In the end, he only played 45 minutes in the opening game of the European Championship, when Andrich had a yellow card. The 33-year-old had expected more from his tournament debut. Kroos is retiring. More Groß from now on?
Waldemar Anton: The Stuttgart defender had to wait a long time for his tournament debut. Three minutes against Denmark, and at least 30 in extra time against Spain. But he will be back for the Nations League in September.
Thomas Müller: The tournament veteran was only a marginal figure on the pitch. 17 minutes against Scotland, 41 against Spain. Goalless in his fourth European Championship appearance. After 131 international matches, he himself expects the end of his time in the national team jersey.
Leroy Sané: The fans waited in vain for his tournament moment. And Nagelsmann hoped in vain for the Munich player, who was not fit for the tournament and whose nominations for the starting eleven against Denmark and Spain were unsuccessful.
The Minute Men
Stuttgart winger Chris Führich would have hoped for more than 19 minutes against Hungary, as would his club colleague Deniz Undav with seven minutes in the same game. Hoffenheim’s youngsters Maximilian Beier and Benjamin Henrichs also only played once. Nagelsmann praised the bench warmers nonetheless: “They also carried the group.”
Source: Stern
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