Today, on June 3rd in Nuremberg, the Ukraine national team will play a friendly match as part of their preparation for Euro-2024. We present our opponent — the German team.

Germany

General Information

As of April 2024, the Germans held the 16th place in the official FIFA ranking. The German national team played its first match in history on April 5, 1908 against Switzerland (5:3), their biggest victory was achieved on July 1, 1912 over Russia (16:0), and their worst defeat came on March 13, 1909 at the hands of England (0:9). The team is known by nicknames such as «Bundesliga», «German Machine», «Team», and «Eagles».

The German national team has won the World Cup four times (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014), three European Championships (1972, 1980, 1996), and is the winner of the Confederations Cup (2017).

Squad

Goalkeepers: Marc-André ter Stegen («Barcelona», Spain), Oliver Baumann («Hoffenheim»), Manuel Neuer («Bayern Munich»), Alexander Nübel («Stuttgart»).

Defenders: Antonio Rüdiger («Real Madrid», Spain), Joshua Kimmich («Bayern Munich»), Niko Schlotterbeck («Borussia Dortmund»), Benjamin Henrichs, David Raum (both — «RB Leipzig»), Waldemar Anton, Maximilian Mittelstädt (both — «Stuttgart»), Robin Koch («Eintracht Frankfurt»), Jonathan Tah («Bayern Munich»).

Midfielders: İlkan Karaman («Barcelona», Spain), Toni Kroos («Real Madrid», Spain), Pascal Groß («Brighton», England), Leroy Sané, Jamal Musiala, Aleksandar Paunović (all — «Bayern Munich»), Robert Andrich, Florian Wirtz (both — «Bayer Leverkusen»), Chris Führich («Stuttgart»).

Forwards: Kai Havertz («Arsenal», England), Niclas Füllkrug («Borussia Dortmund»), Maximilian Beier («Hoffenheim»), Thomas Müller («Bayern Munich»), Deniz Undav («Stuttgart»).

The most representation in the German national team comes from the Bundesliga. 21 players represent seven clubs of the country's championship: «Bayern Munich», «RB Leipzig», «Bayer Leverkusen», «Hoffenheim», «Stuttgart», Dortmund's «Borussia Dortmund» and Frankfurt's «Eintracht Frankfurt».

Head Coach

The 36-year-old German specialist Julian Nagelsmann has been coaching the national team of Germany since September 22, 2023. He replaced Hans-Dieter Flick on this position.

Previously, Nagelsmann worked with «Hoffenheim», «RB Leipzig» and «Bayern Munich». Together with «Bayern Munich» he became the champion of Germany-2021/2022 and twice won the German Super Cup (2021, 2022). Football coach of the year in Germany (2017).

The German national team under Julian Nagelsmann has played six matches. They have won three times, drawn once, and lost twice. The specialist prefers a 4-2-3-1 playing formation.

Leader

Currently, there is no clear leader in the German national team. Several players are vying for this title, both veterans (Thomas Müller and Toni Kroos) as well as younger ones (Niclas Füllkrug, Kai Havertz, and Leroy Sané). However, we will highlight the experienced midfielder of «Barcelona», İlkay Gündoğan.

İlkay Gündoğan has played 75 matches for the German national team at the age of 33 and scored 18 goals. With the Bundeslig, he became a bronze medalist of the European Championship in 2012.

Besides «Barcelona», the midfielder has played for «Nuremberg», Dortmund's «Borussia Dortmund» and England's «Manchester City». With «Borussia Dortmund» he became a champion of Germany (2011/2012), won the German Cup (2011/2012) and the German Super Cup (2013). With «Manchester City» he won the UEFA Champions League (2022/2023), English Premier League (2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023), FA Cup (2018/2019, 2022/2023), English Community Shield (2018, 2019) and the EFL Cup (2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2019/2020, 2020/2021). Footballer of the year in Germany (2023).

Recall that the friendly match against Germany will be played today by the Ukraine national team in Nuremberg at the «Max Morlock» stadium (kick-off at 9:45 PM Kyiv time).