Joachim Loew, former coach of the German national team, has noticed a change in the atmosphere since Jurgen Klopp took charge of coaching the national team.
Loew, who led Germany to win the 2014 World Cup, told Kicker sports magazine: “The entire nation wanted Jurgen Klopp as a coach. The new beginning is tangible, there are new players participating, and we are witnessing a departure towards a different era, and the atmosphere has become positive again.”
Klopp replaced Julian Nagelsmann, who led Germany during a disappointing World Cup participation earlier this year. However, Klopp has only managed one win in his first four matches, which were in the UEFA Nations League.
But Loew stressed that no one should expect miracles from the new coach, noting that “he needs time, and his team must find its identity.”
Klopp's contract extends until after the 2030 World Cup, noting that the European Nations Championship (Euro 2028) precedes this date.
Loew said: “The final ruling is always issued upon returning home after the conclusion of any tournament. In major tournaments you have to prove your worth.”
On Saturday, Portugal seeks to secure the top spot in Group D in the first level of the European Nations League, in its first match in the era after its star, Cristiano Ronaldo, as it aspires to win over its guest, Denmark, which is seeking to enhance its chances of reaching the quarter-finals. Portugal has secured the first place in the group with the full mark since the fourth round, collecting 12 points, and is 3 points ahead of second Denmark, and 6 points ahead of Wales and Norway, whose chances of qualifying still exist, and they will try to maintain them when they meet Oslo in the penultimate fifth round. Ronaldo confirmed his retirement from international football earlier this month, drawing the curtain on a busy career during which he played 234 international matches, scored 146 goals (two world records), and led his country to three major titles: the European Cup (2016) and the European Nations League (2019 and 2025).
It seems that Portugal was ready to turn the page on Ronaldo, who missed its last three matches due to his not participating in the match against Norway (2 - 1) in the second round on September 27, as he left the training camp and missed the next two matches against Denmark (4 - 2) and Norway (2 - 1) on October 1 and 4 last year. However, three of Portugal's four victories in this year's edition came by a margin of only one goal, meaning that coach Jorge Jesus' squad had to make strenuous efforts to collect their 12 points. It is enough for Portugal to avoid defeat to secure the lead and maintain its unbeaten record in 14 official international matches at home, a series that began before the 2022 World Cup (13 wins, one draw).
As for Denmark, it started its campaign in the competition in a faltering manner by losing to Norway (2 - 3), but it regained its balance with two wins in its next three matches (compared to one defeat), thus becoming the most prominent pursuer of Portugal. However, Brian Reimer's side still lacks defensive stability; It conceded 7 goals in this group, despite its success in keeping a clean sheet in two matches. Denmark seeks to gain three points from this confrontation before playing a potentially decisive match against Norway next Tuesday in the final sixth round, noting that the risk of relegation to the second level still exists.
Portugal won 5 of the last 6 matches against Denmark (against one defeat), including a 4-2 win in Copenhagen in October. Portugal is missing the services of Joao Cancelo and Francisco Conceicao due to suspension, and Tomas Araujo, Nuno Tavares and Rafael Leao due to injury, while Barcelona defenseman Andreas Christensen is absent from the Denmark squad, because he only recently returned to participate in competitions with his Spanish club after recovering from injury.
A fateful summit between Wales and Norway
Given that they are tied on 3 points in last place, the confrontation between Norway and Wales may play a decisive role in determining the fate of each of them in the competition. Norway's first participation in the first level was very difficult; After winning the opening match against Denmark, it suffered three consecutive defeats, which made it enter the fourth round in last place. These three defeats are Norway's worst total in a single edition of the European Nations League. If it suffers another defeat, coinciding with Denmark achieving a positive result (a win or a draw) in the other match in the group, this will confirm that coach Staley Solbakken’s squad will remain in last place. However, Norway can go into the match with some confidence, especially since its loss to Portugal in the second round was its first on home soil since March 2024 (before which it achieved 11 wins and 3 draws).
As for Wales, it is ahead of Norway thanks to its victory in the direct confrontation last month (2 - 1), in which it overturned its deficit into a victory, but then lost to Denmark 0 - 1. This was its eighth defeat in 10 matches it played in the first level of this tournament (compared to one win and one draw). Any new stumble in this match will put it in the face of the inevitability of victory over Portugal in the sixth round to avoid last place and the risk of direct relegation to the second level. Wales is counting on the return of a number of influential players, led by Harry Wilson, who has recovered from injury. Coach Craig Bellamy hopes to correct the course of Wales, which has achieved only one win in its last eight matches (two draws and 5 defeats).
