Low can still bow out on a real high

GERMANS MAY HAVE PUT TROUBLES BEHIND THEM

Open conflict in the camp, the nation’s biggest competitive defeat, and a departing boss who appeared to have lost the confidence and backing of his squad.

Things could not have looked worse for Germany during a shambolic build-up.

Yet after two years of turmoil – which included an historic defeat by North Macedonia and an unwanted record 6-0 loss to Spain – in a few short weeks Joachim Low appears to have somehow revived the old German spirit.

He has done so with a return to his old guard who so spectacularly won the World Cup in 2014, and some good old-fashioned team bonding sessions designed to integrate veterans with a new generation of hugely-talented youngsters.

And Low, who has seen everything in a 15-year tenure as national team coach that ends after the Euros, believes there is a transformation which could yet inspire a typically German winning tournament mentality. He said: “We have prepped well over the last two weeks. We took big steps in the right direction, we have a great atmosphere in the camp and there’s eagerness and ambition.This is what you can feel and we’re looking forward to start.

“You can feel positive tension in the air and anticipation. I thought ‘finally!’ when I got on the bus to come here. I’m calm, relaxed, and think that in the last 14 days we have done what we wanted to. Tomorrow it’ll be important to see what the team has shown in the last couple of weeks against such a top-class team as France.

“We have a lot of qualities in our team, a good balance, a good mix between attack and defence. In attack we have a lot of quality, Werner, Sane, Havertz, Muller and Gnabry, to name just a few, can decide a game on their

own.” Low took the dramatic step of recalling Mats Hummels, 32, and Thomas Muller, 31, to his Euros squad, two years after axing them on the back of the disastrous 2018World Cup.

And his team-building sessions seem to be working, with a morale-boosting 7-1 warm-up victory over Latvia a week before the tournament, where rising stars like Joshua Kimmich starred alongside the veterans.

The manager, backed by team director Oliver Bierhoff, has set up a ‘pod share’ at the team’s base in Munich to help morale.

Low has detailed his seven most experienced players to live in podstyle houses, where each share accommodation with three younger players.

It seems to be working, with morale clearly being lifted as players get to know each other and pass on tips.