All 22 players are fit and want to achieve the end goal of qualification for the European Championships. Stefan Kuntz’s Germany U21 side will book their place for EURO 2017 in Poland, should they record their ninth qualification win against Russia in Ingolstadt.
The head coach was therefore full of energy and enthusiasm ahead of the game. “It’s a lot of fun coaching a side with so much quality,” according to Kuntz. “The level they play at in training is very impressive. Now, we only need to make a few tweaks in order to prepare well for the Russia game.”
One of these tweaks is video analysis, according to Kuntz. The team will be shown footage both of their games and of the oppositions'. “We are treating Russia with a lot of respect and want to show the players both the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition,” said Kuntz. “At the same time, we are also concentrating on our strengths. We want to put in a dominant performance, control the game and complete a perfect qualification campaign with a win in Ingolstadt.”
Win record beckons
The 53-year-old head coach also has to think about controlling the work load of some of his players. “A lot has been demanded of some of the players in recent weeks. A lot of the players were at the Olympics and then went straight back to their clubs to play in the Bundesliga, DFB Cup and even the Champions League. Our role, as coaching staff, is to take these things into account and work out the best training programme for the players. It’s working very well, as we are also working in conjunction with the players’ clubs.
Kuntz’s third game in charge of the U21 side is a vital one and possibly even historic. A win against Russia will not only secure a perfect qualification for next year’s European Championships, but also break an U21 record of eleven wins in a row. “I have only joined this incredible journey relatively late,” said Kuntz, modestly. “We want to carry on this successful period for the U21s, which Horst Hrubesch started.
Arnold to captain the side once again
The coaching staff have used the international games in September and October to get a chance to see as many players as possible in action. Kuntz can count on 35 players in his extended squad of players. The head coach has already revealed two names for his starting eleven against Russia. Dynamo Dresden’s Marvin Schwäbe will be in goal, while Wolfsburg’s Maximilian Arnold will again lead the side out as captain.
Kuntz is also delighted that he can count on players such as Leroy Sané, Jonathan Tah, Matthias Ginter and Niklas Süle, all of whom have recently played for the full Germany national team. “Our team is strengthened with the strong connection to Jogi Löws side,” he explained. “We both think about what is best for the players and where they can get game time. None of these players see it as a downgrade to be playing with the U21s.”
Kuntz as a role model
Kuntz won the 1996 European Championships in England and scored 179 goals in his 449 Bundesliga games. Nevertheless, he doesn’t think he had anywhere near the same amount of talent as his players in the U21 squad, as he admitted yesterday. “The boys have a lot more about them compared to generations gone by. However, I can prepare them for what they need to be successful. They need to stay mentally fresh and keep on the right track.” The first target to staying on track can be achieved tonight, with a win against Russia.
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All 22 players are fit and want to achieve the end goal of qualification for the European Championships. Stefan Kuntz’s Germany U21 side will book their place for EURO 2017 in Poland, should they record their ninth qualification win against Russia in Ingolstadt.
The head coach was therefore full of energy and enthusiasm ahead of the game. “It’s a lot of fun coaching a side with so much quality,” according to Kuntz. “The level they play at in training is very impressive. Now, we only need to make a few tweaks in order to prepare well for the Russia game.”
One of these tweaks is video analysis, according to Kuntz. The team will be shown footage both of their games and of the oppositions'. “We are treating Russia with a lot of respect and want to show the players both the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition,” said Kuntz. “At the same time, we are also concentrating on our strengths. We want to put in a dominant performance, control the game and complete a perfect qualification campaign with a win in Ingolstadt.”
Win record beckons
The 53-year-old head coach also has to think about controlling the work load of some of his players. “A lot has been demanded of some of the players in recent weeks. A lot of the players were at the Olympics and then went straight back to their clubs to play in the Bundesliga, DFB Cup and even the Champions League. Our role, as coaching staff, is to take these things into account and work out the best training programme for the players. It’s working very well, as we are also working in conjunction with the players’ clubs.
Kuntz’s third game in charge of the U21 side is a vital one and possibly even historic. A win against Russia will not only secure a perfect qualification for next year’s European Championships, but also break an U21 record of eleven wins in a row. “I have only joined this incredible journey relatively late,” said Kuntz, modestly. “We want to carry on this successful period for the U21s, which Horst Hrubesch started.
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Arnold to captain the side once again
The coaching staff have used the international games in September and October to get a chance to see as many players as possible in action. Kuntz can count on 35 players in his extended squad of players. The head coach has already revealed two names for his starting eleven against Russia. Dynamo Dresden’s Marvin Schwäbe will be in goal, while Wolfsburg’s Maximilian Arnold will again lead the side out as captain.
Kuntz is also delighted that he can count on players such as Leroy Sané, Jonathan Tah, Matthias Ginter and Niklas Süle, all of whom have recently played for the full Germany national team. “Our team is strengthened with the strong connection to Jogi Löws side,” he explained. “We both think about what is best for the players and where they can get game time. None of these players see it as a downgrade to be playing with the U21s.”
Kuntz as a role model
Kuntz won the 1996 European Championships in England and scored 179 goals in his 449 Bundesliga games. Nevertheless, he doesn’t think he had anywhere near the same amount of talent as his players in the U21 squad, as he admitted yesterday. “The boys have a lot more about them compared to generations gone by. However, I can prepare them for what they need to be successful. They need to stay mentally fresh and keep on the right track.” The first target to staying on track can be achieved tonight, with a win against Russia.
