Thomas Hitzlsperger’s BBC Sport column: ‘After early surprises, this is when big teams get going’

Along with Spain, Germany have been the team that has looked most convincing after three matches.

I was certain after Germany’s second game, our win over Hungary, that we had really arrived and the team was really rolling. It made me think we could go very far.

Our third game, against Switzerland, was much harder and we struggled a bit to get a draw but maybe it was just what we needed.

At first, Germany tried to go through the middle all the time and the Swiss just overloaded those areas to stop them. It took Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann a while to make changes and bring on David Raum and Niclas Fullkrug, but it was good to see he has got a Plan B, and I think he has got a Plan C and D if needed too.

It was good to have that test, and react to it, because Denmark could try to play like Switzerland did when we play them in the last 16. In the past that caused Germany a lot of trouble but now I am thinking maybe the team has progressed a little bit further than I had thought.

We have found some consistency – Nagelsmann has named the same team in each game here so far – which is important and also the team camp seems very relaxed. I went there earlier this week and although I did not see the players because they were on a rest day, I was speaking to some of the staff and it was a great atmosphere.

The reaction from the German public has been really positive too – the TV viewing figures have been high and the fan zones have been busy. I’m pleased with the way the supporters have grown together with this team, which is what we’ve always wanted in the past couple of years.

So, our story of this tournament so far has been a happy one, but we don’t know yet how it is going to end. That is the same for everyone though – there are a lot of good teams left in Euro 2024 and I don’t think you can pick one that is definitely going to win it.

Thomas Hitzlsperger was speaking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan in Germany.