DORTMUND: Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said images of fans celebrating in the streets inspired the hosts to continue their Euro 2024 run, saying the 鈥渟pecial鈥� scenes reminded him of the 2006 World Cup on home soil.
In 2006, hosts Germany defied low pre-tournament expectations to go all the way to the semifinals before losing to eventual champions Italy in extra-time in Dortmund.
The 2006 World Cup became known in Germany as the 鈥榮ummer fairytale鈥� for the tournament鈥檚 positive impact both on and off the pitch.
Speaking before Saturday鈥檚 last 16 match against Denmark at the same venue, Nagelsmann said the images 鈥減ushed鈥� the hosts to 鈥渃reate more pictures and more videos鈥� to rival the celebrations of 18 years ago.
鈥淚t鈥檚 special when we see the pictures and videos of the fans and how they celebrate in the cities.
鈥淲hen we talk about 2006 it鈥檚 always about that, we don鈥檛 talk about the results, we don鈥檛 talk about the games 鈥� it鈥檚 always about the fan zones.
鈥淎t the moment I feel the same,鈥� the coach said, adding 鈥渨e鈥檙e not done yet.鈥�
Three-time Euros winners Germany have struggled in recent tournaments, with group stage exits at the past two World Cups alongside a last-16 elimination at the hands of England at the Euros in 2021.
鈥淲e鈥檒l try to continue winning the games to try to create new pictures and videos in the fan zones tomorrow and in the next weeks as well.鈥�
Nagelsmann said the 鈥済iant expectations鈥� did not bother him, saying he was 鈥渃ompletely relaxed because the coaching team have worked and prepared well.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e extremely well prepared for things and will go to bed calmly this evening.
鈥淚鈥檝e got great trust in the team, I know what鈥檚 inside of them and what they are capable of delivering.鈥�
鈥淚 think the lads will go into the game with a good feeling and will fulfil the giant expectations.鈥�
Nagelsmann said he was looking forward to coaching at Dortmund鈥檚 Westfalenstadion cauldron 鈥� which is usually the largest stadium in Germany but has a reduced capacity for Euro 2024.
The former Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig coach said he was happy to be coaching at the stadium with the 鈥渧ery loud鈥� home crowd behind him for the first time, saying 鈥渦sually I鈥檓 with the away team.鈥�
Sporting a new bleached-blonde haircut, heavily tattooed midfielder Robert Andrich said he was 鈥渓ooking forward鈥� to the 鈥渟pecial atmosphere,鈥� saying it would 鈥渓ift me up 鈥� and the team too.鈥�
鈥�(Hopefully) it puts the Danes under a bit of pressure.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e happy we won the group 鈥� now we鈥檙e in the last 16 and our run isn鈥檛 over yet, we鈥檝e got a few more things ahead of us.鈥�