According to Joti Chatzialexiou, the men’s national team can learn something from the footballers who have been so successful at the European Championships in England.
“I maintain that if we travel to the World Cup in Qatar with the same passion, play like that there and show this defensive spirit – then we have great potential to become world champions with the men’s senior team,” said the sporting director for national teams in German Football Association (DFB) on Thursday.
According to Chatzialexiou, men’s national coach Hansi Flick will be watching the European Championship final on Sunday (6 p.m. / ARD and DAZN) at Wembley Stadium. “He’ll come and keep his fingers crossed for us. He’ll definitely take one or the other with him,” said the 46-year-old, who once again emphasized the influence of the special atmosphere: “90,000 people will be in the stadium – 90, 95 percent against us. But that motivates.”
Chatzialexiou particularly praised captain Alexandra Popp, who shot Germany into the final with a brace in the semifinals against France (2-1). “Poppi is incredible. The story kind of fits the tournament. And it will be rounded out if we actually win at Wembley and take the title home,” said Chatzialexiou, of the forward, who has been recovering from a long-term knee injury.