Niklas Süle says the German National Team possesses the same hunger as Bayern Munich, can win the Euros

Niklas Sule missed a large chunk of football this season due to the cruciate ligament injury he sustained in the fall, but the center back returned to action for Bayern Munich during the Champions League tournament in Portugal. He made appearances in all four of Bayern’s matches in Portugal and has since joined up with the German National Team along with Leroy Sané for preparations for Die Mannschaft’s upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Spain and Switzerland.

Having just won the treble with Bayern, in a recent interview to ZDF, (via Az) Süle said he’s confident that the German National Team possesses the same hunger and winning mentality as his club. He feels that they can really press for the Euro 2021 title next summer: “We have a team which by all means can play for the title. We have the same hunger as with FC Bayern.”

Süle has not played for Germany since last September, having missed out on their last two European qualifying matches last fall en route to topping group C with a record of 7 wins, 0 draws, and 1 loss. Had coronavirus not pushed the European Championships back a year, Süle likely would not have had enough time to return to action to be considered for Joachim Low’s squad for the finals.

The break in football because of the pandemic gave him extra time to continue rehabilitation and work on his fitness, which he says he took advantage of: “I extremely missed doing what I love. It was not an easy time for me, I really missed the DFB. We have a really cool team. I always come here with an incredible joy.” He even went as far as saying that he “dares to play” in both matches against Spain and Switzerland, respectively. That will be up to Low, though.

Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images

Despite suggestions from the press that Süle would be the leader of Germany’s defensive line moving forward, the center back doesn’t exactly see himself in that role, per se. He said he just tries to bring his voice and responsibility to the team every time he’s in the squad: “I have never chosen myself as the defense boss, those were never my words. I try to leave my mark on the team and take responsibility.”

Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images