Between Curaçao and Ivory Coast
©IMAGO
After his successful World Cup comeback, Manuel Neuer was still on the podium for the player interviews when Kai Havertz was already announced as the next DFB professional for an interview. “Oh, the man of the match,” said Germany’s record goalkeeper – and quickly withdrew from the platform with a grin.
Havertz was named player of the game by FIFA. But the analysis of Neuer’s 7-1 dream start against Curaçao was also evidence of the importance of the record goalkeeper in the national team. Neuer provided the general classification of success. And the reference point was the 2014 World Cup triumph in Brazil.
“To have started a tournament like this is something very special. It gives you confidence and calm. However, we know: That wasn’t a semi-final against Brazil with a 7-1 win,” said Neuer. 7:1, this historic result from the century victory in Belo Horizonte was copied, but this time the opponent was Curaçao in Houston in the very first tournament game.
Neuer also remembered the 4-0 win against Portugal at the start of the World Cup twelve years ago. “A lot went down for us back then,” said the 40-year-old. The red card for Portugal’s Pepe and a hat trick from Thomas Müller ultimately caused the celebrations. “You can’t really draw parallels, but I think we have every opportunity with this team,” said Neuer, citing energy, cohesion and character as three factors in the current World Cup selection.
It was precisely for these experiences that Julian Nagelmann brought the 40-year-old back two years after his resignation. And for the right analyzes and assessments at the right time. “He exudes extreme calm. He’s not someone who talks all the time. And he chooses his words carefully,” the national coach praised his team veteran.
Neuer is not to blame for the goal conceded by Curaçao’s Livano Comenencia. If the ball hadn’t been deflected, he would have had it, said Nagelsmann. The success gave the team “confidence in their own strength,” said Neuer. And after his return, he himself “got to know one or two players better on the pitch when it comes to something countable.”
DFB team: First free time, then focus on the top game in the group
Deep in the German night, the happy German footballers were back in Winston-Salem after their opening gala. Shortly after 9 p.m. local time, the charter plane with the DFB entourage touched down at the city’s Smith Reynolds Airport after the flight from Houston. There were also some players’ wives and children on board, as could be seen when we got out. As a reward for the dream start to the tournament in America, Nagelsmann will now let his players take a breather for two days at the base camp in North Carolina; with lots of free time and family visits.
This Monday there will be replacement training for the reservists and a regeneration unit “for the boys who played”, as Nagelsmann said in Houston: “And then the second day after the game is free. And then we prepare for the next opponent, the next task. And that is now called Côte d’Ivoire, or Ivory Coast.” While the German team was on the plane, the team from Africa defeated Ecuador 1-0 in Philadelphia with a very late goal. This means the top game in Group E will take place next Saturday (10 p.m. CEST) in Toronto.