Germany is under a lot of pressure in its second game at the World Cup. Some players have a lot of room for improvement against Spain, the different way of playing football could help them.
In view of the long stoppage times in Qatar, November 28 will probably be the day when the game between Germany and Spain is over. The late kick-off at 10 p.m. (8 p.m. German time) has the advantage for the four-time world champion that he knows the constellation in Group E better, because Japan and Costa Rica will already meet in the first game on Sunday.
Safe progress impossible
A lot is still possible for the German team, a safe progression after the second matchday is impossible in view of the defeat against Japan.
The simple predictions, which in football are a mixture of recent impressions and cross-checks, will predict that a team that wins against Germany will also win against a team that loses 7-0 against Spain.
Banal and correct wisdom
But one of those equally banal and true wisdoms of football is that every game is different. The game against Spain will be fundamentally different from the game against Japan. The percentage of ball possession will decrease, probably even significantly, because at the start it was about 70 percent for the team of national coach Hansi Flick.
That’s good news, because in the past few months the German team has felt quite comfortable when they can expect the opponent to be a little further back and more compact in order to counterattack. In England, for example, it worked well, but at 3: 3 not over the entire season.
problems with hedging
However, the problems with protection against counterattacks and with long passes behind the defensive chain (for example the goal to 1: 2 against Japan) should be reduced if the basic orientation becomes more defensive.
What tactic against Spain?
The national coach and his staff face tricky tasks in the coming days to find both the right tactics and the right staff. Some personnel should also be determined by the medical department. Should Leroy Sané, who missed the game against Japan with a knee injury, be available again, his speed would certainly make him a good option to transform the attacking area.
However, the structure of the team should remain and there is a great need for some players to improve their performance against Spain. Joshua Kimmich, for example, was noticed in several scenes against Japan in which he was missing in his midfield space, which he has to protect. Except for a – albeit ingenious – pass to Serge Gnabry, which preceded one of the several big chances missed, the strategist fell well short of his possibilities.
Havertz: duel quota 31 percent
This also applied to Thomas Müller, who neither fired a shot on goal nor prepared one. This also applied to Kai Havertz, who mostly even stormed in the center and in the front row. His numbers are therefore all the more sobering, especially since the professional of the Chelsea FC only won 31 percent of his duels. With the exception of the offside goal, Havertz was hardly noticed.
Gnabry, jug, Moukoko off the bench again?
However, given the likely different approach against Spain, Havertz could keep his place in the starting XI. Should he have to go to the bench, it would be more likely that Gnabry (six shots on goal, five of them inside the penalty area against Japan) will move to the top. Niclas Füllkrug and Youssoufa Moukoko, who even attacked together towards the end of the opener, could be options again against Spain if a goal is badly needed.
Switch to defense likely
In defence, even if Flick stays with a back four, changes are likely. Nico Schlotterbeck has the stigma of being the main culprit in the second Japanese goal, his Dortmund club colleague Niklas Süle showed weaknesses as a right defender, for which he was heavily criticized by sports show expert Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Süle inside next to Antonio Rüdiger, Thilo Kehrer on the right would be an option. Jonas Hofmann at right-back would be another, but more in case a goal is urgently needed.
Günter instead of space against Spain?
With Hofmann and David Raum, who confirmed against Japan on the left flank that his strengths lie far more in the offensive, it would probably be too risky. Christian Günter instead of Raum would be another possibility, but it is questionable. whether Flick wants to make many personnel changes. On the other hand: It will also be a completely different game on Sunday (and probably Monday).