We’re a tournament team and we’re out to win it, says Muller
DEFENSIVE concerns and a win percentage only a fraction over 50 since they became world champions in Brazil has done nothing to damage German confidence.
There have been rumblings from afar, whispers behind hands that Joachim Low’s team might not be the force they were but there is not a trace of doubt inside the camp.
Germany have only one target in mind. They expect to win the European title for the first time since Wembley in 1996, and the mission begins today against Ukraine in Group C.
‘There’s no pressure, only happiness,’ said Low. ‘I am happier by the hour. When I saw the opening game between France and Romania, I could see what awaits us. We are itching to get started.
‘It’s always the same with Germany. People say we suffer from pressure. It was the same in Brazil and in Euro 2012. We can cope. That’s not an issue at all. We have players who had great experiences in the World Cup, against the hosts Brazil in the semi-finals. We have played in finals. We are used to it.’
Striker Thomas Muller claims this squad is more accomplished than the one that won the World Cup in Brazil while embarrassing the home nation with a 7-1 thrashing in the semi-finals.
‘We have a deeper squad of players of the same quality,’ said Muller. ‘In that respect we are even stronger than two years ago.
‘Germany are a tournament team. I don’t know why that is, perhaps the mentality.
‘We always look forward to tournaments. We also believe we can always perform well. I don’t where that mentality started but we’re always very confident and we do well under pressure.”
Fresh young talent has emerged, such as Leroy Sane and Julian Weigl. The formidable framework of Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng, Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil and Muller not only remains but is more mature and has been boosted by success on the international stage.
Germany have bid farewell to key men, including the captain Philipp Lahm, record scorer Miroslav Klose and Per Mertesacker. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolksi are in France, although expected to be used sparingly.
Injuries have robbed Low of some of his younger generation. Ilkay Gundogan, Marco Reus and Toni Rudiger are out. The absence of Rudiger will be keenly felt, with Mats Hummels fighting back to full fitness.
Hummels trained last night but Low has ruled him out until at least the second group game, with Shkodran Mustafi tipped to step into central defence alongside Boateng.
Schweinsteiger has been in training, albeit with a knee support but the Manchester United midfielder is not expected to feature against Ukraine, sparking a guessing game about the captain.
Low did not help as he fielded questions on the eve of the game. ‘It’s not important,’ said the manager. ‘No sorrows about injuries.’
Despite their supreme selfconfidence, form has been erratic since Brazil when Low’s squad silenced critics who wondered if this gifted generation knew how to transform talent into trophies.
There was an inevitable dip. They were unable to beat Australia in one friendly. They lost to the United States in another. They dropped five points against the Republic of Ireland in qualifying. They also lost to Poland and yet still topped the toughest qualifying group in the competition.
Last autumn, friendlies were disrupted by terror attacks. They lost to France in Paris as bombs went off outside the stadium and a fixture against Holland in Hannover was cancelled. It was an unsettling time but Low’s players have emerged unharmed.
‘When you are the world champions you go into the European Championships expecting to win it,’ said former Arsenal striker Podolski. ‘That is the target. We know how to work at a tournament; how to prepare, how to play. Winning the World Cup was an amazing feeling.’
West Germany held both titles in the Seventies, but won the European title first in 1972. When they came to defend it as world champions, in 1976, they were beaten by Czechoslovakia on penalties in the final.
‘There’s no reason not to be relaxed,’ said Kroos. ‘We’ve had our journey. We’ve reached a great level. We’re here to play.’
Ukraine and the rest of Europe beware.