The national team coach has already made a few promises in his first national address since the European Championships. Joshua Kimmich will be the captain, Antonio Rüdiger will be his deputy, Kai Havertz will be his deputy and Marc-André ter Stegen, as Julian Nagelsmann clearly stated earlier this week, will be the “sure number one”. After the departures of veterans Toni Kroos, Thomas Müller, Ilkay Gundogan and most recently Manuel Neuer, the national team and its leaders are essentially facing a new phase of life. Letting go of the old and blooming the new is now the most urgent task after a generally successful European Championships. And with a largely unchanged squad that will have to compete against Hungary when the Nations League kicks off on Saturday evening. But who knows? There is magic in every beginning.
