The Germany U21s are preparing for the EURO 2017 adventure in idyllic settings, surrounded by mountains in the beautiful Chiemsee area. While the team are working together on their setups, combination play and all that they can put together before the tournament begins, one hast o remain patient. Max Meyer is working individually with the fitness coaches as he nears a return to full action. “I hope that I can participate again fully in the next few days,” said the FC Schalke 04 midfielder. “We are increasing the intensity levels day-by-day and I am optimistic that I will be at my top level for the start of the tournament.”
Things are lokoing positive for Meyer. He has been able to train with the ball at his feet again and drop the occasional sprint. There can be no doubting the exceptional quality that Meyer brings to any of his teams, and the benefit that the U21 side would feel for his presence at the tournament in Poland, which kicks off on 16th June. “Max is a player who can make the difference. He has a lot of experience and has already featured in the senior team as well as playing a great deal at club level – he can be a really decisive player,” said head coach Stefan Kuntz.
Meyer: “You have to put in convincing performances”
No player in the current squad has played more games at U21 level than Meyer’s 19, in which he has added six goals. He has featured four times for the senior team and last summer acted as captain as the Olympic team last summer in Brazil following Leon Goretzka’s injury. It is fair to say that Meyer knows what is required of him and the team. He is not a vocal type who will stand and make speeches to the team, but prefers to do his talking on the pitch. “You have to convince through your performances and bring others up to your level” said Meyer himself. “You can shout as loud as you want to – if you do not back it up with performances, you cannot be called a leading player.”
This is not Meyer’s first U21 EUROs, having already played his part two years again in the Czech Republic as a 19-year old. Only Max Arnold and Serge Gnabry were present both in 2015 and in 2017’s squad. Similarly, only Meyer, Gnabry, Davie Selke and Jeremy Toljan were also in the Olympic squad last summer.
Fourth big tournament for Meyer
Over the first few days, the feeling is similar to the one that was present in Rio last summer, with a real collective determination to make the most of their two weeks. “There is a great atmosphere in the team, we know each other well and the new players like Felix Platte and Lukas Klünter have got going really quickly. The team has a strong character, and that will be important in the tournament setting,” said Meyer.
Meyer has been a part of tournament setups at the U17 EUROs in 2012, U21 EUROs in 2015 and the Olympics in 2016, making this the technical dribbler’s fourth major tournament. His aims of glory were undone in penalty shootouts at the U17 EUROs and the Olympics, and Meyer admitted that he has had “no luck in finals” so far in his career, but has “learned a lot for the future.” He continued, “we have to get the tournament off to a good start and give everything we can in every game in order to make it through the whole way.”
The Germany U21s are preparing for the EURO 2017 adventure in idyllic settings, surrounded by mountains in the beautiful Chiemsee area. While the team are working together on their setups, combination play and all that they can put together before the tournament begins, one hast o remain patient. Max Meyer is working individually with the fitness coaches as he nears a return to full action. “I hope that I can participate again fully in the next few days,” said the FC Schalke 04 midfielder. “We are increasing the intensity levels day-by-day and I am optimistic that I will be at my top level for the start of the tournament.”
Things are lokoing positive for Meyer. He has been able to train with the ball at his feet again and drop the occasional sprint. There can be no doubting the exceptional quality that Meyer brings to any of his teams, and the benefit that the U21 side would feel for his presence at the tournament in Poland, which kicks off on 16th June. “Max is a player who can make the difference. He has a lot of experience and has already featured in the senior team as well as playing a great deal at club level – he can be a really decisive player,” said head coach Stefan Kuntz.
Meyer: “You have to put in convincing performances”
No player in the current squad has played more games at U21 level than Meyer’s 19, in which he has added six goals. He has featured four times for the senior team and last summer acted as captain as the Olympic team last summer in Brazil following Leon Goretzka’s injury. It is fair to say that Meyer knows what is required of him and the team. He is not a vocal type who will stand and make speeches to the team, but prefers to do his talking on the pitch. “You have to convince through your performances and bring others up to your level” said Meyer himself. “You can shout as loud as you want to – if you do not back it up with performances, you cannot be called a leading player.”
This is not Meyer’s first U21 EUROs, having already played his part two years again in the Czech Republic as a 19-year old. Only Max Arnold and Serge Gnabry were present both in 2015 and in 2017’s squad. Similarly, only Meyer, Gnabry, Davie Selke and Jeremy Toljan were also in the Olympic squad last summer.
Fourth big tournament for Meyer
Over the first few days, the feeling is similar to the one that was present in Rio last summer, with a real collective determination to make the most of their two weeks. “There is a great atmosphere in the team, we know each other well and the new players like Felix Platte and Lukas Klünter have got going really quickly. The team has a strong character, and that will be important in the tournament setting,” said Meyer.
Meyer has been a part of tournament setups at the U17 EUROs in 2012, U21 EUROs in 2015 and the Olympics in 2016, making this the technical dribbler’s fourth major tournament. His aims of glory were undone in penalty shootouts at the U17 EUROs and the Olympics, and Meyer admitted that he has had “no luck in finals” so far in his career, but has “learned a lot for the future.” He continued, “we have to get the tournament off to a good start and give everything we can in every game in order to make it through the whole way.”
