“I expect a good tournament from Germany.”

Bayer 04 Leverkusen trainer Xabi Alonso commented on the situation facing the German national team during a press conference yesterday. 

The man widely regarded to be the best head-coach currently working in the German top flight reserved some kind words for the German national team (and its under-fire trainer) at a pre-match press conference yesterday. Noting that he had spoken with young German phenom Florian Wirtz about the matter once the 20-year-old returned to club camp, the Spanish gaffer offered up some optimism about Germany’s chances in the upcoming Euros.

“My opinion is that too many friendlies are not good,” Alonso said of the team that – as hosts – were excluded from more competitive qualifying matches, “Two years of just playing test-fixture after test-fixture is not good for the mentality. Germany have good players and a good coach. I’m almost certain that we’ll see a new energy at the Euros.”

“I spoke with Flo [Wirtz] yesterday  and he was optimistic,” Alonso continued, “That gives me a reason to think that they’re building something. Criticism is normal in football and Julian [Nagelsmann] is no stranger to that. I expect a good tournament from Germany.”

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