National team player Joshua Kimmich is confident that the German public will be as enthusiastic at the Euro 2024 home tournament as it was during the 2006 World Cup, and that the team needs to do its share.
Excitement has so far been luke-warm, partly because the team has not played well in recent years.
But Kimmich told weekend paper Welt am Sonntag that "something really cool and great can arise" at the June 14-July tournament in 10 German cities.
"I believe the people are ready for it. But we as a team must take the first step and be successful, then we can win the people over and emotionalise them," the Germany and Bayern Munich full back said.
Kimmich named the tournament opener in Munich against Scotland "a huge chance for us. There we can create an atmosphere." Germany's other group stage opponents are Hungary and Switzerland.
Kimmich, 29, recalled that he watched the Germany v Argentina 2006 World Cup quarter-final at the Berlin fan zone.
"I perceived the enthusiasm in the country in a completely different way than back home in the village on the coach in front of the TV. It was impressive," he said.
Thomas Hitzlsperger was part of the Germany squad that finished third at the home World Cup, and he believes the Euros offer Germans some distraction from various crises in the country and abroad, and from online hatred.
"A month where we can enjoy football, a little distraction from everyday life. It would be a big gain to get away from the negative reports and the hatred for a month," Hitzlsperger said on Saturday during a Leipzig book fair visit.
"But I would never expect this team to change and improve society in the long term," he added.
The former player said that social media and with it online abuse are much more prominent than during his days on the field.
"Today, anyone can vent their hatred - anonymously and we see it. And that is hurtful," he said.
Kimmich and Hitzlsperger were speaking ahead of friendly internationals on Saturday night in Lyon against France, and on Tuesday in Frankfurt against the Netherlands.
Germany have struggled since winning the 2014 World Cup and reaching the Euro 2016 semis. The went out in the group stage at the last two World Cups and in the round of 16 at the last Euros. The team had just three victories from 11 games in 2023, losing the last two.
