The German national soccer team starts this Tuesday (9 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the soccer championship, on ZDF and on MagentaTV) with the game against world champions France in the European championship.

National coach Joachim Löw relies on the expected line-up, as he did recently in the 7-1 friendly win over Latvia.

Tobias Rabe

Responsible editor for Sport Online.

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    Manuel Neuer is in the gate.

    In front of that there is a three-way defense chain with Mats Hummels in the central as well as Antonio Rüdiger on the left and Matthias Ginter on the right.

    Joshua Kimmich does not play in the center in midfield, but on the right defensive side as an outside player.

    Robin Gosens fills this part on the left.

    Löw places Toni Kroos and Ilkay Gündogan in the center.

    In the attack, the national coach relies on Serge Gnabry, Thomas Müller and Kai Havertz.

    At the start of the cracker against France, the German team has to prove immediately that they are ready to ensure a glamorous farewell to Löw.

    A defeat would certainly not be conducive to the good team spirit that was repeatedly invoked in the preparation of Löw as well as the returnees Mats Hummels and Thomas Müller.

    Although this time everything should be much better than the 2018 World Cup debacle in Russia, there is a residual concern that the Löw era could end with another disappointment. And then there is the hope of tournament coach Löw. But is that really what he is? Christian Kamp analyzes the question. And Michael Horeni looks again at the failed rebuilding after the World Cup debacle.

    “We owe the fans something,” said captain Manuel Neuer, who sees the team motivated “down to the tips” before the home game with 14,000 fans in Munich.

    A coup against the Equipe Tricolore would certainly release a lot of strength for the further tournament path against defending champions Portugal and the uncomfortable Hungarians.

    “The fact is that we can be a weapon ourselves,” Neuer made clear.

    Christian Kamp describes the particular motivation of Neuer in his analysis.

    World champion France is the logical tournament favorite for many.

    Coach Didier Deschamps has players with world-class potential in all positions from goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to Traumsturm with Antoine Griezmann, Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappé.

    Smaller frictions such as between Mbappé and substitute striker Olivier Giroud should hardly be of any consequence.

    Deschamps could become the first footballer to become world and European champions as a player and coach.

    The final defeat at the home tournament in 2016 against Portugal should be overcome.

    Christopher Meltzer describes in his text why Deschamps striker brought Benzema back after a long time.

    For Neuer and Löw, the fans are the big plus.

    For the first time since the outbreak of the corona pandemic, the DFB-Elf is playing in front of several thousand fans in their own country and in Munich, where all four tournament games at world and European championships since 1974 have been won.

    In April, Munich was almost denied the role of host by UEFA because of the uncertain audience question.

    But now you can support in the arena of FC Bayern.

    “We need every kind of support.

    For me it is very special to have the games in Munich, ”said Neuer.

    Does it also mill then?

    Michael Horeni comments why this is necessary.

    That gives hope: Germany is European champion.

    No nation can look back on so many moments of success at the continental tournament.

    Only Spain managed three titles, but in the all-time ranking the DFB-Elf are clearly ahead with 28 games won.

    The game against France is the 50th European Championship game since 1972, when the team of the century led by Gerd Müller and Günter Netzer won the title in their first qualification in Belgium.

    This was followed by further tournament victories in 1980 with the headball monster Horst Hrubesch and in 1996 with Oliver Bierhoff's golden goal. Despite all the splendor, the last European Championship tournament victory was 25 years ago. That was achieved at London's Wembley Stadium - the final location on July 11th. And this time? These are the 26 players who should judge it.