Four-time world champions, three-time Euro winners. However, their last crown dates back to 1996, when they won the European Championship, and the Germans are not used to waiting that long. Only Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller are there from that wonder team that humiliated the Brazilians in 2014. Still, the Germans will try to take advantage of the fact they’re the EURO 2024 hosts.Can the Germans break the curse of opening games?Die Mannschaft’s squad doesn’t look too intimidating, though. There’s Ilkay Gundogan, then Josua Kimich, and finally more than decent centre-back duo Antonio Rudiger and Jonathan Tah. Julian Nagelsmann praises them so much that he left veteran Mats Hummels out of the team. He had a great season and played in the Champions League final with Dortmund, but Nagelsmann likes his team to have the ball at their feet when the defence stands high, and that’s where Hummels’ speed would be a problem. And he didn’t want to bench such an ace.For the same reason, Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretska did not pass the final test, either. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8161512##The keys of this team are in the hands of Kroos, a legitimate candidate to end his trophy career with the Ballon d’Or trophy if he adds the one from the European Championship to the Champions League trophy with Real Madrid. Gundogan, Musiala, Wirz and Sane will be in charge of creation. Musiala and Wirtz, as the most talented players at their positions, will likely be the starters. In the end, Kai Havertz, alone in the attack, finally shined in Arsenal and was especially deadly when he played the “nine”.EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – GROUP STAGEFriday22.00: (1.30) Germany (5.20) Scotland (11.0)Saturday16.00: (3.20) Hungary (3.30) Switzerland (2.30)19.00: (1.90) Spain (3.50) Croatia (4.20)22.00: (1.42) Italy (4.30) Albania (8.50)Sunday 16.00: (5.70) Poland (3.80) Netherlands (1.63)19.00: (5.00) Slovenia (3.50) Denmark (1.75)22.00: (7.50) Serbia (4.40) England (1.50)***odds are subject to change***
