Spain-Germany 1-1: goals from Morata and Fullkrug

Sunday of good news for Germany: in the afternoon the victory of Costa Rica over Japan which prevented immediate elimination in case of defeat, in the evening the draw with Spain. Two years ago it ended 6-0 in Seville, yesterday evening in the magnificent Al Bayt Bedouin tent the first match between the Qatar 2022 world champions ended 1-1 with goals from two centre-forwards who started from the bench: first Morata and then Fullkrug. A fair result which leaves the group open to multiple solutions and which arrived at the end of a match managed by Spain, but played intelligently by a Germany that entered the field on the verge of a nervous breakdown and came out certainly reassured. The entry of Sané, hitherto crushed: he was the one who changed Germany. After beating Costa Rica 7-0, Spain slowed down but remained at the top of the group. Thursday Spain-Japan and Germany-Costa Rica.

THE VARIATIONS

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Few personnel changes, but a tactical blender. As expected, Luis Enrique recovers Carvajal, stopped by the air conditioning, removes Aziplicueta and makes a strange move in attack: he starts with Asensio on the right, Dani Olmo, deployed on the left with Costa Rica, in the middle, Ferran Torres who moves to the wing. But after 3 minutes he changes everything and goes back to the lineup of the first game. Flick also changed his right-back: Kehrer inside with Sule brought back in the middle alongside Rudiger and Schlotterbeck exit. His best friend, Goretzka, appears next to Kimmich, and this causes chain shifts: Gundogan advances, between Gnabry and Musiala, and Mullerfalse nueve, with Havertz exiting.

THE CALM

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Luis Enrique had said he didn’t want a ‘loca’ game and his followers followed him: Spain took the ball and kept it at will, calm and sure of their dribble. Maybe too much. The Germans run after their opponents but are ready in the event of an opponent’s mistake, and there is no shortage of mistakes, starting with the low counterattacks by Unai Simon.

THREE OFFSIDES

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Flick’s team adapted to the opponent’s domination, and were saved by Neuer who in the 7th minute flew a Dani Olmo shot over the crossbar and onto the post. Then the best actions are all outlawed: a counterattack by Gnabry launched by Goretzka, a sensational error by Ferran Torres in front of goal, Rudiger’s goal from a free kick by Kimmich. Offside in all three situations.

WINNING CHANGE

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The second half began with a quick substitution from Morata for Ferran Torres, dull after two goals on his debut, and another gift from Unai Simon to the opponents, with an assist from Gundogan for Kimmich and a redeeming flight from the Basque goalkeeper. The turning point in the 62nd minute Busquets found Dani Olmo between the lines, and the most inspired of the Spaniards opened for Jordi Alba, Morata’s cross and advance on the statuesque Sule.

EXCELLENT HEALTHY

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Lucho removed Asensio and Gavi to put in Koke and Nico Williams, Flick replied with Klostermann, Sané and Fullkrug for Kehrer, the inspired but underused Gundogan and the useless Muller. The second is the quickest to get into the game: he immediately puts Musiala in front of Unai Simon: the boy throws at him. And then in the 83rd minute he’s still at the center of the equalizer: he finds Musiala again who somehow gets the ball to Fullkrug who with a powerful and precise right diagonal beats Unai Simon fixing the result.