The German U21s have completed six intense days of training at their camp in Grassau am Chiemsee. DFB coach Stefan Kuntz has until 23:59 CEST tonight to finalise his 23-man squad for the European Championship in Poland (16th-30th June). Niklas Stark, the vice-captain of the side, is almost certain to be named in the squad. The 22-year-old defender had a successful season with Hertha as the capital city club qualified for the Europa League.
We spoke to Niklas Stark about the atmosphere in the U21 Germany squad, the winning formula for the European Championship and his favourite position.
DFB.de: Mr Stark, day six of the training camp. Have you got cabin fever yet?
Niklas Stark: We all know that feeling here. I think we’ve had it from the first day we got here (laughs). No I think the atmosphere amongst us is very good. Of course, it’s tiring doing two training sessions a day, but once they’re done we can chill out and have a lot of fun. It’s also good that we can all travel home for three days on Friday, before we go to Poland. Everyone will have the chance to clear their heads.
DFB.de: What impression are you getting in training?
Stark: We’re working well, but we have to. We need to give everything. That’s the only way that we’ll be successful at the EUROs and achieve our aim.
DFB.de: Or ‘write your own history’?
Stark: Exactly. This motto was contrived by the whole team. It works really well.
DFB.de: What’s more important: fitness work or mental strength for the tournament?
Stark: Obviously both are important. You can’t get by without the right fitness level. But I would say mental strength is perhaps the most important aspect going into a tournament. We need to be on it and believe in our strengths. We’ve amassed fitness during the season, but we’ll need to make sure we refresh it after our short break.
DFB.de: It’s obvious how you work on your fitness. But how do you work on your mentality?
Stark: Well to begin with we need to go into the tournament with confidence. We’re Germany and we’re always one of the favourites. We had a perfect qualification period with ten wins from ten matches. Now we’re working together at the training camp and want to build a unity. Therefore, we need the necessary ease and fun element and then be ready to perform and achieve when we walk out onto the pitch.
DFB.de: You know what you’re talking about. You won the U19 European Championship in 2014. Current Germany U21 teammates Davie Selke, Levin Öztunali and Marc-Oliver Kempf were also there.
Stark: Yes and we had exactly this mix of mental strength, fun and of course good footballers in the team back then. Along with the boys who were in 2014, I’ve also known the other guys in the squad for a while now and I know that we all want to win the title.
DFB.de: What role will the coach Stefan Kuntz play in the upcoming tasks and in trying to win the European Championship title?
Stark: The coach was a player himself and was a European champion in 1996. He knows exactly what makes the players tick and shares his experience with us. In fact, with everyone. He isn’t only interested in a few, rather he talks to everyone. He knows what’s important and how to mould a team together.
DFB.de: You were a key player for Hertha last season, sometimes in defensive midfield, sometimes in central defence. Which position do you prefer?
Stark:I like playing in both positions, but honestly I see myself as a centre-back.
DFB.de:You’re set to play in this position for the U21s, but it’s certainly not a disadvantage that you’re also able to operate in holding midfield.
Stark:No, definitely not. And for me as a centre-back, it’s also helpful that I can put myself in the shoes of our holding midfielders. I’m familiar with their role in the side and understand how they think and what they can do in certain situations. I can bring my experience and direct the defensive midfielders.
DFB.de: “Niklas Stark is one of the brains in the U21s.” Would you agree with this statement?
Stark:I’m vice-captain. Obviously I want to set an example. We’re all the same age and share the responsibility. At our clubs we’re the young ones, but here we can take the lead. That’s good for our personal development.
The German U21s have completed six intense days of training at their camp in Grassau am Chiemsee. DFB coach Stefan Kuntz has until 23:59 CEST tonight to finalise his 23-man squad for the European Championship in Poland (16th-30th June). Niklas Stark, the vice-captain of the side, is almost certain to be named in the squad. The 22-year-old defender had a successful season with Hertha as the capital city club qualified for the Europa League.
We spoke to Niklas Stark about the atmosphere in the U21 Germany squad, the winning formula for the European Championship and his favourite position.
DFB.de: Mr Stark, day six of the training camp. Have you got cabin fever yet?
Niklas Stark: We all know that feeling here. I think we’ve had it from the first day we got here (laughs). No I think the atmosphere amongst us is very good. Of course, it’s tiring doing two training sessions a day, but once they’re done we can chill out and have a lot of fun. It’s also good that we can all travel home for three days on Friday, before we go to Poland. Everyone will have the chance to clear their heads.
DFB.de: What impression are you getting in training?
Stark: We’re working well, but we have to. We need to give everything. That’s the only way that we’ll be successful at the EUROs and achieve our aim.
DFB.de: Or ‘write your own history’?
Stark: Exactly. This motto was contrived by the whole team. It works really well.
DFB.de: What’s more important: fitness work or mental strength for the tournament?
Stark: Obviously both are important. You can’t get by without the right fitness level. But I would say mental strength is perhaps the most important aspect going into a tournament. We need to be on it and believe in our strengths. We’ve amassed fitness during the season, but we’ll need to make sure we refresh it after our short break.
DFB.de: It’s obvious how you work on your fitness. But how do you work on your mentality?
Stark: Well to begin with we need to go into the tournament with confidence. We’re Germany and we’re always one of the favourites. We had a perfect qualification period with ten wins from ten matches. Now we’re working together at the training camp and want to build a unity. Therefore, we need the necessary ease and fun element and then be ready to perform and achieve when we walk out onto the pitch.
DFB.de: You know what you’re talking about. You won the U19 European Championship in 2014. Current Germany U21 teammates Davie Selke, Levin Öztunali and Marc-Oliver Kempf were also there.
Stark: Yes and we had exactly this mix of mental strength, fun and of course good footballers in the team back then. Along with the boys who were in 2014, I’ve also known the other guys in the squad for a while now and I know that we all want to win the title.
DFB.de: What role will the coach Stefan Kuntz play in the upcoming tasks and in trying to win the European Championship title?
Stark: The coach was a player himself and was a European champion in 1996. He knows exactly what makes the players tick and shares his experience with us. In fact, with everyone. He isn’t only interested in a few, rather he talks to everyone. He knows what’s important and how to mould a team together.
DFB.de: You were a key player for Hertha last season, sometimes in defensive midfield, sometimes in central defence. Which position do you prefer?
Stark:I like playing in both positions, but honestly I see myself as a centre-back.
DFB.de:You’re set to play in this position for the U21s, but it’s certainly not a disadvantage that you’re also able to operate in holding midfield.
Stark:No, definitely not. And for me as a centre-back, it’s also helpful that I can put myself in the shoes of our holding midfielders. I’m familiar with their role in the side and understand how they think and what they can do in certain situations. I can bring my experience and direct the defensive midfielders.
DFB.de: “Niklas Stark is one of the brains in the U21s.” Would you agree with this statement?
Stark:I’m vice-captain. Obviously I want to set an example. We’re all the same age and share the responsibility. At our clubs we’re the young ones, but here we can take the lead. That’s good for our personal development.
