Motivation about prestige duels
A tournament victory is still missing, and that could be even more difficult to implement in the next edition. Because UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin is about to integrate the ten South American football nations into the competition. A joint office of UEFA and the South American confederation CONMEBOL was opened in London in April.
But that’s still a dream of the future, the focus for the German national team is currently on the first group game on Saturday (8.45 p.m. in the Sportschau live ticker) in Bologna. Then it’s about the first points against European champions Italy. Midfielder Leon Goretzka: “These are absolute prestige duels. That’s why it’s not difficult for me and the team to motivate themselves.”
After a tough season, the hosts’ players should also be anything but fresh in the classic against Germany. But they can take an involuntary rest from mid-November: For the second time in a row, the four-time world champion failed to qualify for the World Cup finals.
What’s next after that?
The 5th and 6th matchdays will take place from September 22nd to 27th, the Final Four for the title will take place from June 14th to 18th, 2023. The final round will be held in one of the four nations qualified for it.