After the three failed test matches against Ukraine (3:3), Poland (0:1) and Colombia (0:2), sports show expert Bastian Schweinsteiger identified a number of weaknesses in the German national team. He not only refers to parts of the team, but also has an eye on the big picture.
National coach Hansi Flick tried a lot in the last three games, played with a five-man chain, then switched back to a four-man chain. Tested numerous players at the end of a long and exhausting season, gave chances to recommend themselves for upcoming tasks and the EURO 2024, but many players struggled in the different formations.
“I simply believe that the team is unfamiliar with the tactics”Schweinstieger gives his assessment and now sees clear instructions for Flick: “The national coach has to recognize that and change that, because six goals were conceded in the last three international matches – that speaks for itself again.” The focus should therefore be clearly on defence.
Importing tactics and formation
Looking at the national coach’s approach to the three important friendlies, the 121-time national player could have imagined a different strategy: “I would have liked us to use the same formation and tactics that we use at the tournament. You can see that the players don’t find the system that easy.” Important for 38-year-olds is a side effect that arises from early clarity in the team: “Because it doesn’t create the special spirit that pushes you as a team.”
Prospects for the EURO? Grim.
Poland defeated Germany in a test only to be beaten by Moldova a few days later in the European Championship qualifier – the national teams seem to be suffering from the long season. Nevertheless, the state of the team has to be defined a year before the big tournament at home. And it looks bleak for the Sportschau-Extern: “Yeah, well, that can all happen. But you just have to be more disgusting against the ball, defensively much better, so that this security comes in.”
And especially when it comes to “title prospects”, Schweinsteiger gets specific: “But of course it will be very difficult with the title. But a team that fights for Germany gives everything – we can do that. And then we just have to see how far that goes.”