On Friday the adventurer Mike Horn was a guest at the team hotel in Seefeld.

Such an accompanying program is standard with the national soccer team, for the purpose of diversion and edification, whereby the former may need a little more urgent than usual under the circumstances of the corona seclusion. As usual, the lecture of the mentality master was praised with all sorts of flowery words, and because Horn had already stopped by in Brazil in 2014, Manuel Neuer rated the repeat visit as a “good omen for us”.

Christian Kamp

Sports editor.

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    It is quite possible, however, that the entertainment program the next day was even a little more exciting for the national team - and in the end it was possibly more edifying. Joint Champions League final evenings in front of the television are also an integral part of the training camps, they do not always end as desired, in 2010 Bayern lost to Inter, and in 2012 the “home final” against Chelsea, which darkened the mood for a long time. On Saturday evening, however, Joachim Löw and his players experienced a footballing spectacle of intensity that could prove to be even more valuable to them than Horn's stories.

    How Antonio Rüdiger, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz moved on the largest European stage in the masterfully choreographed team of FC Chelsea, that should also have made an impression in front of the TV screens in Seefeld and further strengthened the already grown self-confidence of the team.

    Sure, there were deductions for Timo Werner because his goal was reminiscent of many other promising but ultimately unfinished evenings, but otherwise he showed a presence and enthusiasm that made people want more.

    What does Löw do with Müller and Havertz?

    This was overshadowed by the resolute appearance of Antonio Rüdiger in defense, who, with an intimidating face mask, straddling and blocking, ensured that Manchester City could not get a shot on goal (which for Kevin De Bruyne was painful in a collision with a broken nose and eye socket ended). While Rüdiger was responsible for the necessary grounding, Kai Havertz was the one who made the game of the “Blues” float, not just because of his winning goal. Everything he did was hand and foot, head and speed. In any case, it was difficult to imagine that this Havertz should not have a permanent role in Löw's team when the European championship begins in two weeks.

    On Sunday someone sat on the press podium in Seefeld, who is not only supposed to have a fixed, but also a leading role. He, too, is someone who likes to bring the floating element into the game of his team, and the way Thomas Müller talked about his way of playing football, Havertz could also come to mind: always aiming to accelerate, to initiate the next Attack, verticality as a principle.

    And so it is one of the most exciting questions to the national coach, what he makes of the wealth of playful mood and intuition that gathers in these two figures: the 31-year-old Müller, 100 international matches, and the 21-year-old Havertz, up to 100 Million euros expensive, 13 international matches. The 2014 world champion, who returned with high hopes, and the man who has everything to shape the future, and who gave an impressive taste of it on Saturday.