Nagelsmann reacts to Euro draw, Völler reveals Germany's March opponents
Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann has issued his initial comments on the Euro 2024 draw. In addition to commenting on the draw itself, DFB top manager Rudi Völler has also confirmed the German national team's plans for the March international break.
Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann reacted to this evening's Euro draw by expressing some relief that his team had "not been drawn into a group of death". That fact being mentioned, Nagelsmann did acknowledge that he felt the opening group stage game against Scotland would be "a tough one". Nagelsmann also expressed respect for Hungary based on "the Hungarians that I've trained" and made it clear that he wouldn't take the "derby against direct neighbor Switzerland" lightly.
DFB top manager Rudi Völler - seated directly next to Nagelsmann as the draw unfolded - also noted that "no opponents would be taken lightly" and expressed optimism that "with some changes" Germany could play a successful tournament. Nagelsmann, as expected, will have just four matches to implement said changes. Völler confirmed that Germany's opponents in two friendlies to be played during the March international break with be France and Holland.
Völler noted that tough opponents were needed in order to gauge the progress of the Nationalmannschaft. Germany defeated France 2-1, with Völler serving as the interim coach, just after the dismissal of Hans Dieter Flick during the September international break. A draw against Holland in March of 2022 officially brought Flick's initial winning streak as Bundestrainer to an end. Germany will head to Lyon to face France. A German venue for the Netherlands fixture has not yet been determined.
Prior to the kick-off of the Euros on June 14th, Nagelsmann's squad will be given an additional two warm-up exhibition fixtures. These will take place in early June after, it is expected, Nagelsmann finalizes his squad selection in mid to late May. Two appears to be the set number of extra matches Nagelsmann will get, according to Völler. It should be noted that it isn't necessarily uncommon for FA's to add one additional game prior to tournaments, or at at least schedule an extra light scrimmage.