A sharp round of applause from national coach Hansi Flick after the final whistle. With a tight draw against Spain (1-1), Germany no longer has it completely in its own hands at this World Cup in Qatar, with a group match to go. But a victory over Costa Rica on Thursday should normally be enough for a place in the round of 16. Flick knows: it will have to be better. And fast too.
After the unexpected defeat in the first game against Japan (1-2), the German team immediately came under heavy fire. Image started speculating about a successor to national coach Flick (Thomas Tüchel or Jürgen Klopp), other media wondered whether the team spirit was okay because midfielder Ilkay Gündogan had criticized his teammates afterwards. And, remarkably, Flick’s team was also convicted for covering their mouths in the team photo, in protest against FIFA, which had just announced that wearing the OneLove captain’s armband would be punished with yellow.
While the German players in other European countries were praised for their courage and inventiveness, in Germany the action was denounced by many as cowardly. “It doesn’t matter how many words we waste on our actions, I have the feeling that we always leave the field as a loser, at least in the German public opinion,” said veteran midfielder Thomas Müller. The grumpiness did not seem to have disappeared the day before the game. Flick only brought one player to the press conference, against FIFA regulations.
Lesser years
But the dissatisfaction goes deeper than the disappointments of the first World Cup week. The German national team has not been doing well for years. At the 2018 World Cup, the four-time world champion was eliminated in the group stage, the team finished last in a group with Mexico, Sweden and South Korea. Three years later, during the European Championships the Mannschaft again disappointed. Against England (0-2) things already went wrong in the eighth final, just like this Sunday evening with Danny Makkelie as referee. The elimination marked the end of the era of Joachim Löw, the man who became national coach after the World Cup in his own country in 2006 and led Germany to the 2014 world title in Brazil.
Germany recovered somewhat under Hansi Flick. But it was still not really convincing this year. Of the six games that Germany played in the Nations League, it lost only one, but only once was won. And although the German national team has a lot of quality – six of the starting eleven play against Spain at Bayern Munich, supplemented by players from Real Madrid (Antonio Rüdiger) and Manchester City (Gündogan), among others – there are still concerns for the future.
Because the team is old. Germany started the match against Spain at the Al Bayt stadium north of Doha with the oldest team since the final against Brazil in 2002. Most players are in their late twenties, Thomas Müller, Ilkay Gündogan and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer are well past their thirties . Only striker Jamal Musiala is young (19) and promising. Compare that with Spain, which kicked off with talents Pedri (20) and Gavi (18), and had Ansu Fati (20), Nico Williams (20) and Alejandro Balde (19) on the bench.
Full on attack
It was clear beforehand that Spain would be a completely different opponent than Japan. Stronger, of course, but perhaps also a team that would suit the Germans better. Germany often plays full on the attack under Flick, with a last line that is preferably far from their own goal. Japan took advantage of that space with balls in the depth, while Spain, on the other hand, combines and looks for a way to the enemy goal from long periods of possession.
Problem is: Spain is pretty good at that, as it turned out during the sweep against Costa Rica (7-0). Spain also showed its class early on Sunday evening. After about five minutes, the team of national coach Luis Enrique started to combine in the back. A minute and a half and about five triangles later, Dani Olmo was cleared on the sixteen. Boom. At 150 kilometers per hour, through a hand from goalkeeper Neuer, on the crossbar. Moments later, Jordi Alba was released in the same way, he shot wide. Spain then remained the better team, but Germany was increasingly successful in frustrating the build-up of the opponent.
If that succeeded on half of Spain, Germany could occasionally become dangerous. Shortly after the break, a failed combination around their own penalty area even led to the first big German chance. Midfielder Joshua Kimmich took possession of the ball and shot from close range at keeper Unai Simón. But just when you got the idea that Germany was putting some pressure on the Spanish goal, substitute Álvaro Morata made it 1-0 from a flowing attack from the right.
Germany had to take more risks, a defeat would bring an early elimination very close. That ignited the match. Spain had opportunities, Germany too. Ten minutes before the end, substitute Niclas Füllkrug (Werder Bremen) saved the German ambitions by shooting hard into the far intersection after a quick attack of about eight meters. With that, Germany now has two points less than Japan and also Costa Rica, which surprisingly won the mutual game earlier in the day (0-1). A win over the Central Americans is enough for second place in the group, provided Japan does not beat Spain by big numbers.