It's been 28 years. In the 1980 European Cup, a young goalie named Toni Schumacher became a starter in place of the injured Norbert Nigbur on the German international team. Fate? Luck? With Schumacher between the posts, Germany became European champions for the second time.
Shortly before the start of the EURO 2008, Germany's two-time footballer of the year spoke with bundesliga.de about the chances of the German team, the goalies and the special moments in the 1980 European Cup.
bundesliga.de: Mr. Schumacher, the EURO 2008 is right around the corner. How excited are you?
Toni Schumacher: I'm really excited about it, because this tournament will be really hard fought given the abilities of the teams competing. There are no clear outsiders, no home favourites. Group C with Holland, Italy, France and Romania is a tournament in itself. I'm really looking forward to the EURO 2008!
bundesliga.de: How and where will you follow the tournament?
Schumacher: I'll be right up close, because as an expert commentator for ZDF Morning Magazine, I'll be in Lugano amongst the German international team and, as a co-owner of sporting agency, I'll also be involved with players on a business level. So that means I'll be in the middle of the tournament, not just TV…
bundesliga.de: What chances do you see for the German international team?
Schumacher: Jogi Löw's team will definitely get into the semi-final. I'm certain about that. The rest is the way the ball rolls.
bundesliga.de: Who are the favourites in the group? In the tournament?
Schumacher: I think that Switzerland has a good chance with the home crowd behind them. Italy is always a competitior. The rest is a puzzle, like Spain. Despite all of their amazing players, they've yet to win a major tournament. From the gut, I'd say that will change. A possible final would be Italy against our team.
bundesliga.de: Who might be the positive, the negative surprise of the EURO?
Schumacher: There won't be any surprise loser. But the fact that in group C a large European nation will have to pack their bags will have quite an effect. My sleeper picks are Apain and Croatia. And Switzerland. For the hosts, everything depends on the start in the tournament. If it starts off well, they can really achieve something great.
bundesliga.de: Are there are players that you have your eye on?
Schumacher: I'm really excited to see Christiano Ronaldo. A lot of people think he's the best player in the world. He disappointed me in the Champions League. He's definitely a great footballer, but to be a superstar you have to step up with a great performance in a big tournament. I want to see that. I watch Jens Lehmann and how he deals with the lack of playing time in the season just past. I'm looking forward to seeing Fernando Torres, a great striker with an unbelievably great instinct for finding the goal.
bundesliga.de: Can a former star goalie praise a current interational team goalie?
Schumacher: I really like to watch the French player Gregory Coupet play between the posts. He's a good, strong-willed guy. The number two guy for years, a real fighter, was defending goal in 2008 after suffering an injury. I like him. Petr Cech is also an extraordinary goalie.
Interview by Sebastian Stolz
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