The U19s set their sights on Sinsheim. In summer 2016 the U19 European Championship will be held in Badem-Württemburg, the final being played at Rheim-Neckar-Arena. The U19 national team will begin the first stage of the long road to the EUROs on Friday in Bergisch Gladbach, when they play a friendly against England, and on the following Monday they face the Netherlands in Raalste. Marcus Sorg’s task is to make a new team out of last year’s U18s. The 49-year-old U19s coach talks to DFB about the upcoming matches, the new playing style and the joy of having a home European Championship.
DFB.de: Mr Sorg, the new U19 team have all come up from the U18s. How well do you know the squad?
Marcus Sorg: I know the players individually already. I have watched them in league matches and in other international games. What I don’t know is how they gel as a group. The team have been prepared outstandingly by U18 coach Guido Streichsbier, which will make for an easy transition.
DFB.de: What is the aim for this international break?
Sorg: I want to get to know the players and to get a feel for the team. We need to use this time well because of how limited it is. We also want to get the team playing a new style of football and carry on with the things that Guido started last year.
DFB.de: In the meetings with U19 coaches in the last week, did you outline a what would be implemented on the training pitch? Will you do anything differently with the team to how you’ve done it before?
Sorg: When you are bringing a new playing style in it is vital that you provide help to the players. You also have to give them freedom so that they can call upon their creativity. We don't want to pin them down to something particular, rather give them an outline, for example, staying organized defensively and playing proper passes in attack.
DFB.de: In the last U19 European Championships, you were with the likes of Jonathan Tah, Timo Werner and Leroy Sané, who are now trying to make their name in the Bundesliga. Out of the current crop, who do think will make the breakthrough?
Sorg: It is always hard to predict that kind of thing. At that age, development is usually reasonably quick, but for others it takes longer. There is certainly a lot of potential there, for example, Philipp Ochs, who has already featured in the Bundesliga this season for Hoffenheim.
DFB.de: What would you say about the upcoming games against England and the Netherlands?
Sorg: We want to be playing with the best. England were champions of Europe in 2014 when they beat the Netherlands in the final, so it is a great opportunity for us and we will be fully tested.
DFB.de: Are games against such strong opponents different to games against countries who don’t have such big names in their teams?
Sorg: The players have enough experience. Many played in the EUROs in Malta last year and have already played lots of international matches. They know that even the smaller nations have a huge amount of quality. But of course, this kind of game is always special.
DFB.de: The European Championship will be held in Baden-Württemburg, and Germany get automatic qualification as a result. What effect does that have?
Sorg: We won’t have to play qualification rounds, so we will have more time. It means we can try out many different things with the team. On the other hand, we need to compensate for not having any competitive fixtures. We see the home European Championships as a big challenge. Such tournaments are favourable for the home side and always offer a great atmosphere.
DFB.de: What effect does the Mercedes-Benz Elite Cup, in which you will host the USA, Mexico and Scotland, have on the EUROs?
Sorg: First we will concentrate on the upcoming friendlies. The Elite Cup will help us to get to know the German surroundings ahead of the home European Championships. We will stay in the cities and play on the pitches that will also host the EUROs. That takes away a lot of uncertainty for the players, meaning that they will be better prepared. We want to use the home crowds and surroundings to our advantage.
DFB.de: It is also a home European Championship for you as manager. Are you extra motivated?
Sorg: I am always fully motivated (laughs)!
created by mmc/alc
The U19s set their sights on Sinsheim. In summer 2016 the U19 European Championship will be held in Badem-Württemburg, the final being played at Rheim-Neckar-Arena. The U19 national team will begin the first stage of the long road to the EUROs on Friday in Bergisch Gladbach, when they play a friendly against England, and on the following Monday they face the Netherlands in Raalste. Marcus Sorg’s task is to make a new team out of last year’s U18s. The 49-year-old U19s coach talks to DFB about the upcoming matches, the new playing style and the joy of having a home European Championship.
DFB.de: Mr Sorg, the new U19 team have all come up from the U18s. How well do you know the squad?
Marcus Sorg: I know the players individually already. I have watched them in league matches and in other international games. What I don’t know is how they gel as a group. The team have been prepared outstandingly by U18 coach Guido Streichsbier, which will make for an easy transition.
DFB.de: What is the aim for this international break?
Sorg: I want to get to know the players and to get a feel for the team. We need to use this time well because of how limited it is. We also want to get the team playing a new style of football and carry on with the things that Guido started last year.
DFB.de: In the meetings with U19 coaches in the last week, did you outline a what would be implemented on the training pitch? Will you do anything differently with the team to how you’ve done it before?
Sorg: When you are bringing a new playing style in it is vital that you provide help to the players. You also have to give them freedom so that they can call upon their creativity. We don't want to pin them down to something particular, rather give them an outline, for example, staying organized defensively and playing proper passes in attack.
DFB.de: In the last U19 European Championships, you were with the likes of Jonathan Tah, Timo Werner and Leroy Sané, who are now trying to make their name in the Bundesliga. Out of the current crop, who do think will make the breakthrough?
Sorg: It is always hard to predict that kind of thing. At that age, development is usually reasonably quick, but for others it takes longer. There is certainly a lot of potential there, for example, Philipp Ochs, who has already featured in the Bundesliga this season for Hoffenheim.
DFB.de: What would you say about the upcoming games against England and the Netherlands?
Sorg: We want to be playing with the best. England were champions of Europe in 2014 when they beat the Netherlands in the final, so it is a great opportunity for us and we will be fully tested.
DFB.de: Are games against such strong opponents different to games against countries who don’t have such big names in their teams?
Sorg: The players have enough experience. Many played in the EUROs in Malta last year and have already played lots of international matches. They know that even the smaller nations have a huge amount of quality. But of course, this kind of game is always special.
DFB.de: The European Championship will be held in Baden-Württemburg, and Germany get automatic qualification as a result. What effect does that have?
Sorg: We won’t have to play qualification rounds, so we will have more time. It means we can try out many different things with the team. On the other hand, we need to compensate for not having any competitive fixtures. We see the home European Championships as a big challenge. Such tournaments are favourable for the home side and always offer a great atmosphere.
DFB.de: What effect does the Mercedes-Benz Elite Cup, in which you will host the USA, Mexico and Scotland, have on the EUROs?
Sorg: First we will concentrate on the upcoming friendlies. The Elite Cup will help us to get to know the German surroundings ahead of the home European Championships. We will stay in the cities and play on the pitches that will also host the EUROs. That takes away a lot of uncertainty for the players, meaning that they will be better prepared. We want to use the home crowds and surroundings to our advantage.
DFB.de: It is also a home European Championship for you as manager. Are you extra motivated?
Sorg: I am always fully motivated (laughs)!
