With five wins from five games, 20 goals scored and just three goals conceded, the Germany U21 national side enjoyed a fine 2015 and put themselves in a great position to qualify for EURO 2017 in Poland. This year, however, Horst Hrubesch's side have the biggest sporting event in the world to look forward to. It's therefore understandable that the entire team are raring to go at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The games will be Hrubesch's last big challenge as U21 coach. The 64-year-old will hand over his position to current U19 manager Marcus Sorg after the tournament. However, the team's next tests come in the European Championship qualifiers against the Faroe Islands in Frankfurt on 24th March and away against Russia in Rostov on 29th March. In an interview with DFB.de, Horst Hrubesch spoke about the upcoming European Championship qualifying games, the strengths and composition of his team and their excitement ahead of the Olympic Games.
DFB.de: Mr Hrubesch, more than three months separate your last European Championship qualifiers in November and the upcoming games in March. How have you used the time?
Horst Hrubesch: You don't think I've been on holiday, do you? (laughs)
DFB.de There must have surely been some relaxation involved after such an intense year.
Hrubesch: Yes, I took some time to recover a bit, but there's always something to be doing. I used some of the time to have a look at the players from our setup, talking to a few on the phone and going to visit some others. I also took part in some coaching conferences where I shared ideas with colleagues.
DFB.de: The U21 team's record in last year's European Championship qualifiers: played five, won five, 20 goals scored and just three goals conceded. Sounds decent, no?
Hrubesch: Yes, we can be satisfied with that. Our current team is also the youngest U21 side we've ever had. A lot of the players are only 19 years old. They're developing at a good rate and are always working to improve. For that, I have to congratulate both the players their respective clubs, but we know the boys still have more to give. They can get even better.
DFB.de: What exactly can the players still improve on?
Hrubesch: Even though we've scored 20 goals, we've let some good goalscoring opportunities pass us by. The boys need to get more clinical. When it comes to creating chances, there have also been a few instances where we could have played with a bit more penetration. But like I said, we're working on it.
DFB.de: You've got qualifying matches coming up against the Faroe Islands and Russia. What are you doing to prepare for them?
Hrubesch: We'll have a look to see what condition our players are in and how well they've returned from the winter break. A few days before the game against the Faroe Islands, we'll meet up and work together. If we go into the games fully focused and win both, we'll have effectively secured qualification already.
DFB.de: You recorded a convincing 6-0 win against the Faroe Islands in the reverse fixture. Is the return leg in Frankfurt on 24th March therefore an easy task?
Hrubesch: The simple answer is no. If you don't have the right attitude, even supposedly easy opponents can prove to be a tough challenge to overcome. The Faroe Islands have nothing to lose, which is the danger. However, I have faith in my boys and I know they'll go into their first game of the year with all they've got.
DFB.de: In November 2015 in France, Leroy Sané played a game for the German national team and then took part in an U21 game. Do you plan to play him in any more games?
Hrubesch: Firstly, I’d like to say that I am very happy with the progress that Leroy made then, especially for the U21 team. We always give our players the opportunity to reach the next level; we are the foundation and want to develop players for the senior side. Therefore, it is important that Jogi and I are always on the same wavelength.
DFB.de: In August, you will travel with your team to the Olympic Games in Rio. It will be the first time in 28 years that a German team has made it to the male tournament. You've fulfilled one of your biggest dreams – how much are you looking forward to it?
Hrubesch: Despite all the challenges we have before the Olympics, when I think about it, I feel great anticipation. It has been like that since we qualified last summer.
DFB.de: Have you set yourself any specific goals?
Hrubesch: I hope that we’ll go into the Olympics with a lot of momentum. Then we want to showcase ourselves in a way that will do German football justice. We are going there to go as far as we can and challenge for the title. If we reach our potential, it is definitely possible.
DFB.de: The cut-off date of birth to be eligible for the Olympics is 1st January 1993. That means that there could be some eligible players from the team that earned their Olympics place by reaching the EURO 2015 semi-final. Furthermore, three older players are also allowed in the squad. Are there any specific considerations with respect to the makeup of the squad?
Hrubesch: We will definitely create a team with the players who qualified for the Olympics and the current U21 players. However, we are talking about this seven months away from the start of the tournament, and in that time many things can change. Who will be fit and in form at the time? These are things we don’t know at the moment.
DFB.de: After the Olympic Games you are giving up your post as the U21 coach to Marcus Sorg, current coach of the U19 team. Would you not like to go along with the team to EURO 2017 in Poland?
Hrubesch: I said in 2013, when I took over the U21s, that my biggest dream was the Olympic Games and that I would give my position to a younger colleague when I manage to fulfil this dream. Marcus Sorg is the best man to take over the team after the Olympics. We have already worked closely together, he is fully involved. After the U19 EURO Championship in Germany he will also travel to Rio. Afterwards, I'll hand the team over to him, hopefully on the back of a perfect European Championship record and a successful Olympics.
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With five wins from five games, 20 goals scored and just three goals conceded, the Germany U21 national side enjoyed a fine 2015 and put themselves in a great position to qualify for EURO 2017 in Poland. This year, however, Horst Hrubesch's side have the biggest sporting event in the world to look forward to. It's therefore understandable that the entire team are raring to go at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The games will be Hrubesch's last big challenge as U21 coach. The 64-year-old will hand over his position to current U19 manager Marcus Sorg after the tournament. However, the team's next tests come in the European Championship qualifiers against the Faroe Islands in Frankfurt on 24th March and away against Russia in Rostov on 29th March. In an interview with DFB.de, Horst Hrubesch spoke about the upcoming European Championship qualifying games, the strengths and composition of his team and their excitement ahead of the Olympic Games.
DFB.de: Mr Hrubesch, more than three months separate your last European Championship qualifiers in November and the upcoming games in March. How have you used the time?
Horst Hrubesch: You don't think I've been on holiday, do you? (laughs)
DFB.de There must have surely been some relaxation involved after such an intense year.
Hrubesch: Yes, I took some time to recover a bit, but there's always something to be doing. I used some of the time to have a look at the players from our setup, talking to a few on the phone and going to visit some others. I also took part in some coaching conferences where I shared ideas with colleagues.
DFB.de: The U21 team's record in last year's European Championship qualifiers: played five, won five, 20 goals scored and just three goals conceded. Sounds decent, no?
Hrubesch: Yes, we can be satisfied with that. Our current team is also the youngest U21 side we've ever had. A lot of the players are only 19 years old. They're developing at a good rate and are always working to improve. For that, I have to congratulate both the players their respective clubs, but we know the boys still have more to give. They can get even better.
DFB.de: What exactly can the players still improve on?
Hrubesch: Even though we've scored 20 goals, we've let some good goalscoring opportunities pass us by. The boys need to get more clinical. When it comes to creating chances, there have also been a few instances where we could have played with a bit more penetration. But like I said, we're working on it.
DFB.de: You've got qualifying matches coming up against the Faroe Islands and Russia. What are you doing to prepare for them?
Hrubesch: We'll have a look to see what condition our players are in and how well they've returned from the winter break. A few days before the game against the Faroe Islands, we'll meet up and work together. If we go into the games fully focused and win both, we'll have effectively secured qualification already.
DFB.de: You recorded a convincing 6-0 win against the Faroe Islands in the reverse fixture. Is the return leg in Frankfurt on 24th March therefore an easy task?
Hrubesch: The simple answer is no. If you don't have the right attitude, even supposedly easy opponents can prove to be a tough challenge to overcome. The Faroe Islands have nothing to lose, which is the danger. However, I have faith in my boys and I know they'll go into their first game of the year with all they've got.
DFB.de: In November 2015 in France, Leroy Sané played a game for the German national team and then took part in an U21 game. Do you plan to play him in any more games?
Hrubesch: Firstly, I’d like to say that I am very happy with the progress that Leroy made then, especially for the U21 team. We always give our players the opportunity to reach the next level; we are the foundation and want to develop players for the senior side. Therefore, it is important that Jogi and I are always on the same wavelength.
DFB.de: In August, you will travel with your team to the Olympic Games in Rio. It will be the first time in 28 years that a German team has made it to the male tournament. You've fulfilled one of your biggest dreams – how much are you looking forward to it?
Hrubesch: Despite all the challenges we have before the Olympics, when I think about it, I feel great anticipation. It has been like that since we qualified last summer.
DFB.de: Have you set yourself any specific goals?
Hrubesch: I hope that we’ll go into the Olympics with a lot of momentum. Then we want to showcase ourselves in a way that will do German football justice. We are going there to go as far as we can and challenge for the title. If we reach our potential, it is definitely possible.
DFB.de: The cut-off date of birth to be eligible for the Olympics is 1st January 1993. That means that there could be some eligible players from the team that earned their Olympics place by reaching the EURO 2015 semi-final. Furthermore, three older players are also allowed in the squad. Are there any specific considerations with respect to the makeup of the squad?
Hrubesch: We will definitely create a team with the players who qualified for the Olympics and the current U21 players. However, we are talking about this seven months away from the start of the tournament, and in that time many things can change. Who will be fit and in form at the time? These are things we don’t know at the moment.
DFB.de: After the Olympic Games you are giving up your post as the U21 coach to Marcus Sorg, current coach of the U19 team. Would you not like to go along with the team to EURO 2017 in Poland?
Hrubesch: I said in 2013, when I took over the U21s, that my biggest dream was the Olympic Games and that I would give my position to a younger colleague when I manage to fulfil this dream. Marcus Sorg is the best man to take over the team after the Olympics. We have already worked closely together, he is fully involved. After the U19 EURO Championship in Germany he will also travel to Rio. Afterwards, I'll hand the team over to him, hopefully on the back of a perfect European Championship record and a successful Olympics.
