In a collectively very weak German national soccer team in the international friendly against Japan (1:4), Nico Schlotterbeck and Niklas Süle were the weakest. But nothing came from Serge Gnabry and Kai Havertz either.
Goal
Marc-André ter Stegen: Surprised at the 0-1 in the short corner because Antonio Rüdiger had deflected. He had no chance when conceding the second goal, but did a great job with a foot save in the 41st and 48th minutes, when he prevented a possible 1:3 in each case. In the end I was overcome twice more and completely frustrated.
Defense
Joshua Kimmich: Started committed to the position he learned but actually no longer wants to play because he sees himself as a center strategist. But he put himself at the service of the team at the back right, won balls defensively and initiated several counterattacks in the first half. In the second round he was lost in the general chaos.
Niklas Süle: At times he seemed clumsy in the duels against the nimble Japanese, much too simple, for example, when he received a yellow card in the 25th minute because he was too slow to stop a counterattack without a foul. Good header chance in the 47th minute, which he missed miserably. Defensively after that, almost never close to the man, worst of all when conceding the fourth goal.
Antonio Rüdiger: Unhappy when he came into the duel too late at 0-1 and deflected the ball into his own goal. Even after that, a weak performance without confidence and sharpness in the duel and with blatant weaknesses in the structure.
Nico Schlotterbeck: Hanebüchene’s defensive behavior before the 0-1 lead was outmaneuvered like a youth player. Even after that, Schlotterbeck’s left side of the defense was an absolute weak point – in the 64th minute, Hansi Flick replaced him.
midfield
Ilkay Gündogan: Where is the German Footballer of the Year, the Champions League winner with Manchester City and current top performer at FC Barcelona, as soon as he puts on the DFB jersey? It remains a mystery, even with the captain’s armband against Japan he was once again nothing more than a follower.
Emre Can: Should protect defensively in front of the chain, but kept letting the attacks rush past him. Completely overwhelmed by the pace of the Japanese, it didn’t bring anything forward.
Leroy Sane: Cool shot into the left corner to make it 1-1 in the 19th minute, followed by some dangerous moves from the right. Florian Wirtz and Ilkay Gündogan could have used his crosses in the first half. Sané was still the best German that evening.
Florian Wirtz: Initially harmonized well with Leroy Sané, initiated the 1-1 and in the 30th minute had the goal of making it 2-2 on a pass from the right winger, but missed. Given his abilities, the Leverkusen player would have to intervene a lot more in the game and not hide so often. Completely submerged in the second round.
Serge Gnabry: The fact that Nils Schlotterbeck had massive problems on his left side of defense was also due to Gnraby’s lack of cooperation. A total failure in the first half, and things didn’t get any better after the substitution.
attack
Kai Havertz: In the absence of the injured Niclas Füllkrig, he was once again called up as a center forward – it’s just not his thing. Very poor performance with passing errors and no threat to score, but also without any presence in the running behavior and in the duels, and that after his very brisk appearance in the press conference before this game.
Substitute
Both debutants Pascal Gross (64th minute for Can) as well Julian Brandt (73rd for Wirtz), comebacker Thomas Müller (73rd for Havertz) and Kevin Shame (81st for Gnabry) went down completely – but it wasn’t a good game to be substituted on either.
But what was particularly shocking was the performance of Robin Gosens (84th for Schlotterbeck), who is in great form at Union Berlin – but was extremely unfocused and undisciplined against Japan and was involved in two goals conceded.