After all, a debutant is convincing: Doubts about Flick are growing: DFB-Elf loses in Poland

After all, a debutant is convincing
Doubts about Flick grow: DFB-Elf loses in Poland

06/16/2023 10:43 p.m

There was no reaction to the weak anniversary against Ukraine: the German national soccer team lost in Poland. With the defeat at the farewell of a BVB legend, the pressure on national coach Flick increases. For the 11th time in the last 15 games, his eleven remain without a win.

A year before the European Championships at home, the alarm sirens are getting louder and louder. The German national soccer team failed the endurance test against Robert Lewandowski’s Poland and is still desperately looking for their tournament form. The bitter 0: 1 (0: 1) puts the battered national coach Hansi Flick under even more pressure, despite all the oaths of allegiance, the doubts are growing.

The renewed DFB selection played dominantly, but with too little speed. The luck in the end was missing even after an increase in performance in the second half. After his fourth defeat, Flick only has the duel with Colombia on Tuesday (8.45 p.m. / RTL and in the live ticker on ntv.de) in Gelsenkirchen to create some calm and EM hope before the break until September. Overall, the DFB-Elf remained without a win for the 11th time in the last 15 appearances.

“I hoped that we would finally celebrate a sense of achievement, get in a spirit of optimism, get the country behind us,” said Robin Gosens on ARD, “we all know that it’s only about results, about victories. We have a very played a good second half, but you have to reward yourself.”

Flick massively rebuilds when Blaszczykowski says goodbye

Jakub Kiwior (31st) gave Poland their second victory over Germany in their 22nd duel. Top striker Lewandowski was substituted at half-time, while his colleagues defended their lead with passion and skill. Kiwior clearly prevailed against Thilo Kehrer in the aerial duel, after the header touched down the ball flew over goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen into the goal. In the following standard situations, the German team revealed further coordination problems.

Flick almost completely rebuilt his team in the farewell game for former Dortmund player Jakub “Kuba” Blaszczykowski. Only captain Joshua Kimmich and defender Antonio Rüdiger remained in the starting line-up after the disappointing 3-3 win over Ukraine. The national coach stuck to the three-man chain, the double leadership became the sole entertainer Kai Havertz, who tried really hard.

Flick, who brought up the 20th (!) defensive formation in his 23rd international match, once again defended his system test before kick-off on ARD. “We don’t need to discuss a chain of three, four or five,” he said, it’s more about “putting the basics on the pitch.” So concentration and duel toughness. But here, too, there was a problem again, despite the will that was definitely there.

A debutant in a leading role should help, of all people: 21-year-old Malick Thiaw. “He’s very calm for his age and plays with a lot of self-confidence,” the national coach praised the AC Milan professional. He gave the center player in the row of three and mostly had to deal with Lewandowski. But first he stopped Blaszczykowski, who had broken through (13′). In his 109th and last international match, the 37-year-old almost made it a dream come true.

Shortly thereafter, the 37-year-old was substituted as announced – true to his shirt number in the 16th minute. Both teams lined up for him, and he handed over the captain’s armband to Lewandowski to great applause from the 57,098 spectators in the national stadium. Flick took the opportunity to give his six-man duo Kimmich and Emre Can instructions.

VAR corrects penalty whistle for Germany

Because even on the offensive there was a lack of momentum. With Kai Havertz, who was able to prove himself from the start after his strong performance after being substituted on against Ukraine, there was a lot of idleness in attack. Significant: Two long-range shots by Kehrer (23′) and Havertz (29′) were the best chances in the first half.

But breaking through the Polish defensive block was difficult despite the magic feet of Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz and Havertz on the offensive. Havertz repeatedly left the center orphaned, Musiala was agile but not very effective, Wirtz was a disappointment. Then the Poles struck at a corner, Kiwior hit with a head, Kehrer was too late.

After the break, Champions League finalist Robin Gosens came into play and introduced himself with a good chance, seconds later Kimmich flicked the ball onto the crossbar (both 48′). Referee Orel Grinfeeld took back an initially whistled hand penalty after studying the video (58th).

For the final phase, Flick brought in more offensive forces with Niclas Füllkrug and Leroy Sané (68th each). But German chances like those of Thiaw (78th) remained rare. In the final phase, the DFB selection failed several times due to the strong Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.