Euro 2020: Untested Germans face daunting task against world champions France
Germany’s shock first round exit from the 2018 World Cup triggered an overhaul of the team. But in his final tournament before stepping down after 15 years, Loew has recalled some of the players he had axed after the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic meant that the overhauled squad failed to get the desired results.
With 2014 world champions Thomas Mueller and Mats Hummels back in the squad after more than two years, Germany will be considered as the underdogs when their largely untested line-up face their powerful neighbours.
What Germany will need to do first is lock down their defence against a formidable French frontline, arguably the best in the world at the moment.
With European champions Portugal awaiting next in their group before their final game against Hungary, avoiding defeat could prove decisive for Germany in their ‘group of death’.
“France would not have become world champions if they did not have top defenders,” said Germany forward Timo Werner.
