Ilkay Gundogan is hopeful that Germany can ‘benefit from the euphoria’ of a home crowd at Euro 2024 and is “confident” they can progress deep into this summer’s tournament as they bid to win their first continental trophy for nearly three decades.
Die Mannschaft have won a total of seven major tournaments including three European Championship titles – the joint-most along with Spain – and are widely regarded as one of the biggest football nations in the world.
However, Germany have proven to be a major disappointment in recent tournaments and have suffered a notable decline on the international stage.
Ranked 16th in the world by FIFA, Germany have been eliminated at the group-stage in the last two World Cups, while they were knocked out by England in the last 16 of Euro 2020 and have not reached a major tournament final since winning the 2014 World Cup.
Die Mannschaft fans have to go back 28 years for the last time they celebrated European Championship glory in 1996, and the national team are bidding to claim a record-extending fourth Euros title on home soil this summer.
Gundogan talks up Germany’s Euro 2024 chances on home soil
Barcelona midfielder Gundogan has acknowledged that Germany ‘haven’t done themselves justice in recent tournaments’, but he is hopeful that the national team can go far at Euro 2024.
“We’re confident,” Gundogan told UEFA.com. “We’re very well set up, full of quality and there’s lots of potential in the squad; we just have to deliver now. We haven’t done ourselves justice in recent tournaments.
“We hope this time that we benefit somewhat from the euphoria in our home country and the support of the fans, and that this carries us along. But we know we first have to earn the trust of our fans on the pitch. If we do, I think we will go a long way.”
Germany have begun a new era under 36-year-old head coach Julian Nagelsmann, who has won four, drawn two and lost two of his first eight games in charge since replacing Hansi Flick in September last year.
Analysing what he believes has changed for Germany since the arrival of Nagelsmann, Gundogan said: “He has brought structure to the team. He has clear ideas about what he wants but still, there is a calmness about how the coaching team deals with the squad, and there’s a sense that they have confidence in the players, which reflects well on us.
“We knew that not everything would go perfectly, we knew we would make mistakes, but we have always felt that the coach was right behind the team. We have the right set-up and are capable of producing our best, to pay back the confidence he has in us.”
Gundogan ‘honoured’ to captain Germany at home Euros
Gundogan has had plenty of success during his club career, most notably winning 14 trophies at Manchester City, but the 33-year-old is yet to claim silverware on the international stage with Germany.
The 77-cap midfielder was non-playing squad member for Germany at Euro 2012, before missing their 2014 World Cup triumph and run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 due to injury.
Gundogan has been ever-present for Die Mannschaft since then and has now been chosen to captain the national team by Nagelsmann at Euro 2024.
“It’s a huge honour, a huge privilege to be captain,” said Gundogan. “I have experienced an awful lot in my career, lots of great times but also lots of difficult times.
“I kind of know what it takes to be successful. All I can do is lead from the front, both on and off the pitch. I think the people of Germany – not just the fans – deserve some success.”
Gundogan is expected to start and lead his team out as captain when the Euro 2024 hosts face Scotland in their Group A opener at the Allianz Arena on Friday night.
