Germany look to 'awaken spirits' of 2014 with Bavarian Euro base camp

The host nation still views Campo Bahia as a key factor in building the camaraderie and team spirit to lay a winning foundation.

Now on home soil – and with isolation a little harder to come by than in the Brazilian jungle – the DFB have chosen the village of Herzogenaurach, a location historically intertwined with sport and football in Germany.

Former team director and Euro 1996 winner Oliver Bierhoff, who quit after Germany’s early exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, played a key role in developing the tournament base — known as the ‘Home Ground’ — alongside Adidas.

Bierhoff said the camp was designed to “awaken a spirit, a determination, a will to win” just as Campo Bahia had done a decade ago.

‘The town of bent necks’

A picturesque town of thatched houses and quiet squares with just over 20,000 residents, Herzogenaurach has made an outsized mark on world sport.

Two brothers – Adolf and Rudolf – founded the Dassler Brothers Shoe Company in 1919, but fell out just after World War II and decided to go their own ways.

In 1948, younger brother Adolf, nicknamed ‘Adi’, named his company Adidas while Rudolf founded Puma.

The Dassler brothers died in the 1970s having never made amends and what was a family feud spread to the entire town.

Herzogenaurach was nicknamed “the town of bent necks”, with residents known for looking at strangers’ shoes to work out which brand they were wearing before saying hello.

German players warm up during training. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Federico Gambarini

As rank underdogs, Germany won the 1954 World Cup final 3-2 on sodden turf against Hungary thanks to Adidas’ adjustable-stud boots.

Just outside the Adidas base, Adi has been commemorated with a bronze statue of him mending football boots.

Adidas’ relationship with the German national team remained a constant until 2024, when the DFB announced it had signed a deal with Nike from 2027, with the US sportswear giant reportedly doubling Adidas’ offer.

After a groundswell of criticism about the decision, Adidas have set about showing the DFB what they will be missing.

‘Feel at home’

Adidas CEO Bjorn Gulden, poached from Puma in 2023, said after the announcement “no matter what happens in 2027, we’re 100 percent behind the team.

“We’re fans and you’re family.”

Controversial at first, Germany’s pink-purple Euro 2024 kit has sold out across the country and is now officially the team’s best-selling away shirt of all time.

Despite the pending departure, Adidas updated the training facilities and living quarters at the Home Ground, which include an office for the coaches, meeting rooms, dining room, fitness and regeneration facilities and a common area with video consoles.

Heavily guarded and encircled by high trees to foil the prying eyes of the German tabloids and their drones, players live in three- or four-bedroom bungalows surrounding a pool.

Bayern defender Joshua Kimmich revealed the accommodation is divided up “by position”, adding “I’m in the unit with the other full-backs.”

The squad have made the most of their time in camp, with viral videos showing the players playing games, watching other matches and answering quiz questions about their teammates.

Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who alongside Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller is one of three 2014 World Cup winners in the squad, said the team was “delighted to be back at Adidas again.”

“Those who have been here longer already know their way around and feel a bit at home.”

By Daniel WIGHTON

Germany however came crashing back down to earth against Switzerland and were on course for defeat, before Niclas Füllkrug’s stoppage time header snatched a draw – and with it, first place in the group.

It was a wake-up call the hosts needed, particularly with fans already eyeing a fourth Euros crown, and a reminder that coach Julian Nagelsmann has plenty to work on.

‘We underestimated them’

Germany boast a shinier trophy cabinet than their northern neighbours but were famously beaten by the Danes in the Euro 1992 final.

Denmark’s triumph after failing to qualify and then being admitted following the pre-tournament exclusion of Yugoslavia became a fairytale, but Germany still laments taking the Danes lightly.

A Euros and World Cup winner as a player, Berti Vogts coached Germany in that 1992 final and admitted in his column in the RP newspaper on Thursday that his team “underestimated” Denmark.

“In 1992 we lost the Euros final against a great Danish team even though we were the favourites – like the German team is now,” he wrote.

“Everyone thought we had the title in the bag — unfortunately some players did too.”

Well-drilled and with a smattering of excellent players at top clubs, 2020 semi-finalists Denmark resemble Switzerland in many ways.

Vogts said the current Danish incarnation may not boast the same level of quality as their 1992 counterparts, but that the pressure is well and truly on the Germans.

“The Danes were hungry for success and carefree, they just played football and took us by surprise – also because we underestimated them.

“The German team should not make that mistake now. The Switzerland game was therefore an important warning shot.”

Questions for Nagelsmann

Germany won just three of 11 games in 2023 but are yet to lose in 2024, winning five times and drawing twice, thanks at least in part to Nagelsmann picking the same starting XI.

The coach only deviated from his starters when forced through injury or unavailability.

The policy may have given Germany stability, but it cost him centre-back Jonathan Tah for the Denmark clash, after the defender picked up a second yellow card against Switzerland.

In his place, Borussia Dortmund’s talented yet unpredictable central defender Nico Schlotterbeck will line-up on Saturday.

Antonio Rudiger is also in doubt for the clash with a hamstring injury, although Schlotterbeck said Thursday: “I hope it works out that he returns.”

“I had the same injury already and it’s not easy to get out of your mind.”

Fans of the German national football team gather on June 23, 2024 in Berlin at the fan zone close to Berlin’s landmark Brandenburg Gate. Photo by Joerg CARSTENSEN / AFP

Schlotterbeck said the Germans knew “actually everything” about the Danes.

“The whole match plan, defence, offence. We know about Denmark and how we will play them,” he said.

The 24-year-old looked forward to the match in his home stadium on Saturday, saying Dortmund’s usual yellow wall would become a “wall of white.”

While Tah’s absence will force Nagelsmann’s hand, he may be tempted to replace Arsenal forward Kai Havertz with Niclas Füllkrug, who has scored twice off the bench so far.

Since making his debut aged 29 in 2022, Füllkrug has 13 goals to Havertz’s seven – with the Dortmund striker normally coming off the bench.

Füllkrug, who was playing second division football just two seasons ago, said he was not concerned about his role as supersub.

“The title is so much more important than the individual.”

By Daniel WIGHTON

EURO 2024

Germany look to ‘awaken spirits’ of 2014 with Bavarian Euro base camp

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