Julian Nagelsmann is pushing ahead with his preparations for the European Championship and has scheduled the test matches in March in France and against the Netherlands.
The national soccer team starts the home European Championship year on March 23rd (9 p.m.) in Lyon against runner-up world champion France. On March 26th (8:45 p.m.) there will be a no less explosive classic against “Oranje” in Frankfurt/Main. The German Football Association confirmed this on Monday.
It is still unclear where Nagelsmann and his European Championship candidates will prepare for the games. The DFB team last trained at the association campus in Frankfurt.
“Two traditional duels against major football nations are the perfect start to the European Championship year. France is one of the top favorites for the title, and the Netherlands are also a force to be reckoned with.”said Nagelsmann. Germany won 2-1 against France in Dortmund shortly after parting ways with national coach Hansi Flick in September under interim coach Rudi Völler.
No good memories of Lyon
However, the DFB does not have any good memories of Lyon as a venue. At the 1998 World Cup there was a bitter end with a 3-0 defeat against Croatia in the quarter-finals.
The DFB selection last played 1-1 against the Netherlands in a test match in Amsterdam in March 2022. After the disappointing performances against Turkey (2:3) and in Austria (0:2), Nagelsmann announced drastic measures to prepare for the European Championship. “I am sure that we sold ourselves short last year, which we were all unhappy with. We have a lot of work to do to be optimally prepared for the first international matches of the year and, above all, the tournament “There’s still a long way to go, but we’re excited and really looking forward to these challenges.”said the national coach. Further decisions are expected before Christmas.
Looking for two more test opponents for the DFB-Elf
We are still looking for two test opponents for the beginning of June. These should be similar to the style of play of the EM group opponents. Germany opens the European Championship on June 14th in Munich against Scotland, followed by games against Hungary on June 19th in Stuttgart and on June 23rd in Frankfurt against Switzerland.
The final preparation for the tournament will take place after the end of the Bundesliga season at the end of May and beginning of June. Donaueschingen and a golf hotel near Weimar, where the English are staying during the European Championships, were recently mentioned as possible locations. The DFB has not yet commented on the subject of training camps. However, the option of completing the preparation in the EM quarters in Herzogenaurach is probably off the table.