Baumann: "I'm very excited for the final round"

Oli, what does it mean to you to be in the Final Four of the Nations League?

"Everything to do with the national team makes me very proud. I don't emphasise how grateful I am for no reason. I'm very excited for the final round. At the beginning, when the competition started and I wasn't playing for the national team yet, I was sceptical like many people probably were. But now the Nations League has become more established and its status has increased."

It's the second home tournament for the DFB team in a short period of time after the EURO last year. Does that make it even more special?

"We owe it to ourselves and all the fans to always give something back in every international game. People in Germany should identify with us, with their national team. Now we have the chance to follow up the EURO by winning a title and maybe make up for what we didn't manage to do perfectly last year. It's only top teams that are playing, so we can compare ourselves against the best teams in Europe." 

Is it even better because you played a part in getting the DFB team this far with your strong performance against Italy?

"I know that I played my part. That does make the whole thing even better. I've been working towards this for my whole career. The fact that it's worked out right at the end, at this age as a footballer - although, I should be careful what I say, I do still want to play for a few more years -, and that I can be a key part of it means a lot to me."

Have you been able to comprehend the fact that, at least temporarily, you were Germany's number one?

"Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Whenever I've heard the phrase 'Germany's number one' I've always just thought: yes, for now! But there's nothing wrong with that at all. It's a really nice feeling to be publicly associated with that position. For me it's a huge validation of the work that I've put into my personal development. It's just the best thing about my career. Of course, I was in the DFB squad many times before my debut, but I always rejected it when people said that I played for the national team. For me it only counted after I had actually been on the pitch for the first time. And now I accept being described as a national player."

Are you able to enjoy the international games, or are there a lot of nerves?

"It's really amazing, and I am aware of that. A game like the first game against Italy, when we won 2-1 at San Siro in Milan - you don't forget something like that, those moments are special. Even just being the number three in the EURO last year and seeing how football can inspire a whole country made me extremely proud. Being able to actively contribute now is even better."