Germany face Group C runners-up Denmark in their Euro 2024 Round of 16 tie. Should they beat the Danes in Dortmund this Saturday, what could their route to the final look like?
Here is a breakdown of what Germany’s most likely route to Berlin would look like.
Round of 16: Denmark
Denmark will prove to be tricky customers for Germany. Kasper Hjulmand’s side are well-organised and pose a threat when going forward. With the likes of Manchester United’s Rasmus Højlund, VfL Wolfsburg’s Jonas Wind, and Tottenham Hotspur’s Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, the Danes are blessed with skillful players who can score and create.
Germany will be without centre back Jonathan Tah due to suspension so it’s likely that Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck will play alongside Real Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger.
One more change Julian Nagelsmann could make is playing Niclas Füllkrug from the beginning. The forward’s minutes per goal in a Germany shirt is mightily impressive and is certainly worthy of a start.
Germany should have more of the ball against Denmark and if they’re disciplined and patient, they should get into the final eight.
Quarter-finals: Spain
Should Germany beat Denmark, they will play the winner of Spain and Georgia. Unless a huge shock occurs, Die Mannschaft will face tough opponents in the last eight.
Spain have possibly looked the most impressive this tournament and have so far won every game and conceded no goals in the process.
With home advantage in Stuttgart, Germany will have to start brightly and stop Spain from playing their usual fluid football. Nagelsmann’s side will rely heavily on the likes of Rüdiger to man-mark Álvaro Morata and keep him quiet whilst trying to get Jamal Musiala on the ball as much as possible. This could also be a game where Füllkrug’s physicality comes into play.
One week-spot that Spain could exploit is Germany’s full-backs. They haven’t looked convincing at times and with the likes of Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal bearing down on them, it could prove tricky.
This is a game Germany will need the home crowd, to stay focused throughout, and take their chances when they come. If they can do that, they can get the better of Spain.
Semi-finals: France
France will have had to come through Belgium and then most-likely Portugal to reach the last four, but they’re more than capable of it.
Though France didn’t really click in the Group Stages, if they reach the semi-finals you can bet that they’ve found their groove.
This game could follow a similar game plan that Germany are likely to adopt in the quarters. They know their defence will come under a lot of pressure but it’s all about taking those moments in front of goal.
France have proven that they will leak chances and against powerful opponents, they can be made to pay. In order to stop the likes of N’Golo Kante from running the show in midfield, expect a Toni Kroos masterclass.
He’s done it time and time again for club and country over his career and this could prove to be his swan song in order to secure a place in the final for Die Mannschaft.
Final: Netherlands
That’s right, we could be looking at a repeat of the Euro 1988 semi-finals, which also took place in Germany. This is the match in which Marco Van Basten scored ‘that goal’ and the Dutch went on to win the tournament against the Soviet Union in the final.
The Dutch, though not the best team on paper, have a favourable draw up until the semi-finals where they’ll most likely face England or Italy.
I’ve picked the Netherlands based on the theoretical outcome that they beat Austria in the quarter-finals. Ralf Rangnick’s side gave the Dutch defence all sorts of trouble in the Groups. However, the Netherlands are capable of playing better and if they can put some demons to rest en route to the last four, I fancy that momentum to take them all the way.
Germany will relish the chance to play a rival in the final. The crowd will be ecstatic regardless, but this added element will only add fuel to the German’s fire.
Die Mannschaft possesses the ability to get at the Netherlands defence, with Jamal Musiala the likely source of attack.
Again, the German full-backs will be tested but with Tah and Rüdiger as central back-up, they have enough to keep the Dutch at bay.
A Germany Netherlands final could prove to be an open, all-out game, with plenty of talking points.
And as Gary Lineker once said: “Football is a simple game – 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.”
GGFN | Jamie Allen