Herzogenaurach (dpa) – After a day of catching one’s breath, the focus of the German national football team is fully on the ever-explosive international classic against England.
After the performance in the 1-1 draw against European champions Italy in the opening game of the Nations League, which DFB director Oliver Bierhoff described as “sluggish”, Bayern professional Thomas Müller commented for the home game in Munich’s Allianz Arena on June 7 (8:45 p.m. / ZDF) a very clear expectation.
“Of course we have to do everything we can to get a win. It’s our first home game in the Nations League. In Italy you might say that a 1-1 away result is okay. But only if we’re against England follow up with a win,” said the 32-year-old offensive player. The English surprisingly lost 1-0 in Hungary at the start.
The reunion with the English team is particularly explosive for Müller and Co. because the last meeting almost a year ago is still very fresh in their minds: The 0:2 in London’s Wembley Stadium meant the German European Championship in the round of 16.
Now a revenge should succeed under Joachim Löw’s successor Hansi Flick. Flick will use Monday’s training in Herzogenaurach primarily to see what changes are available for the starting XI. “Now it’s up to us coaches to line up those who are at 100,” Flick said after the 90 minutes in Bologna. Changes are expected.
“The coach has variations and options,” Bierhoff remarked, given the breadth of the 26-man squad. Goal scorer Joshua Kimmich demanded a reaction in front of the home crowd in game two of the international four-pack at the end of the season: “I expect an improvement from us, that we definitely play to win and then win the game.”