Germany against Northern Ireland: with commitment and air up

The German players played little ideas against the Northern Irish. There is still a lot of room for improvement in the creativity category.

Tor – Oliver Baumann: Overall, the goalkeeper had very little to do, the Hoffenheimer came a step too late when he could be blamed. Seemed just as surprised as the entire German eleven. Otherwise solid without great abnormalities, was there when he had to be there.

Defense – Waldemar Anton: With its stable stature and its size, an appearance in the newly formed defense chain. The Dortmund initially fit in well, looked confident and also passproof. But: After a corner kick of the guests, the 29-year-old lost a header duel against Paddy McNair, after which he looked unsettled and was lucky that referee Espen Eskas did not decide against him before the break whistle. Caught again in the second round and set a room free kick with his head just over the opposing goal.

Defense – Robin Koch: Another tree -long defender who was supposed to pull the tooth with physicality. The Frankfurter played as robust as you know it from him. Did not make decisive mistakes, but worked out his actions routinely with passion and overview.

Defense – Antonio Rüdiger: Was not entangled against the northern Irish in this one-to-one duelle, in which he looked so unhappy against Slovakia. Basically played solidly, but Rüdiger always has small mistakes in his game. This happened before the equalization. Rüdiger’s unnecessary loss of ball led to the corner kick for the guests, who led to the goal. The Madrilene is currently not bursting with confidence. He can’t hide that.

Midfield – Jamie Leweling: The task of the Stuttgart was clearly seen. It should use the large rooms behind the Northern Irish defense chain on the right side. He took this order very seriously, started again and again and offered this course to his teammates – but then overlooked it regularly. In the second half, more impulses went out of the sprint -strong offensive player, and he also fired a remarkable goal shot. But he has more options than he could show in this game.

Midfield – Joshua Kimmich: The actual German game designer never really got the game under control and hardly set any accents: many cross passes, no ideas, little presence. The Munich team still seems to be looking for his role in this team. His dreaded chip balls are missing behind the opposing defense chains. The 30-year-old is currently anything but in top form.

Midfield – Pascal Groß (up to 66.Min): Worked a lot in the defensive midfield, without a frills but also without esprit and ideas. Sure, creativity is not the primary task of the Dortmund. But a little more positive influence on the German offensive game would have been desirable.

Midfield – David Raum: Was busy on his left side, his will was clear to him. But it didn’t get much better for a long time because he just couldn’t prevail. There was almost nothing of the dangerous flanks with which he once made a name for himself. In the course of the second half, however, it became more precise. His free kick found Anton’s forehead, his flank Amiri, who only had to insert. Significant increase in performance.

Attack – Serge Gnabry (up to 61. minute): The first few ball contacts were nothing, so a lot went wrong. But what worked out excellently: when the Munich man was able to play his speed and robustness in a duel and turn it into early 1-0. Was the most striking German player in the first half. Nevertheless, he celebrated a fatal mistake: he had his opponent Isaac Price pulled away in the penalty area before 1-1 and transformed calmly. But then appeared almost until his replacement.

Attack – Florian Wirtz: It was very hard to forget his manageable performance against Slovakia. But the 22-year-old does not yet play with this naturalness and lightness that he once had in Leverkusen. The Neu-Liverpoole was tireless, had many ball contacts, but surprisingly lost one or the other duel. Wirtz increased in the course of the game and scored the 3-1 with his brilliant shooting technique. Perhaps he will find old strength with this sense of achievement.

Attack – Nick Woltemade (up to 61. min): In the first ten minutes, the striker was traveling more than in the entire game against Slovakia. Woltemade kept going into midfield and even falling into the defense, was not afraid of a duel and rubbed himself. In the initial phase, the new Newcastle striker showed the presence that the national coach awaits from the 23-year-old. And then it was suddenly torn down. He did not radiate the risk of scoring. In any case, there were no protests against his replacement.

Attack – Maximilian Beier (from 61st min): From the beginning, brought new swing to the game, looked for the depth to be alluded there. So also before the 2-1 when he made sure that the entire Northern Irish defense was apparently irritated. His speed always caused problems with the opponent. Gladly more of it.

Attack – Nadiem Amiri (from 61st min): This is how you imagine this when you are substituted in such a rumbling game for Gnabry. A single campaign in which Amiri was smart and then the beneficiary of the guest confusion changed the overall mood to the team and Cologne stadium.

Midfield – Leon Goretzka (from 66th min): Seamlessly inserted himself into the midfield, pushed up vigorously several times in the attacks, but remained without any noteworthy actions. The substitute Jonathan Tah could also no longer set an accents.