On the one hand, the game against Belgium is just a test match, on the other hand it is the first endurance test for the DFB team after the World Cup and on the way to the European Championships at home. The initial phase in particular must worry fans of the German national team. The sixfold Niclas filling jug does not change that.
What happened at the stadium in Cologne?
The road to the home European Championship in 2024 is long and paved with friendlies, even if substitute captain Joshua Kimmich prefers to speak of “preparatory games”. After the 2-0 victory against Peru, the duel of the disappointed World Cup awaited that evening in Cologne: Germany against Belgium. And the first endurance test threatened to become a historic debacle, the likes of which the German Football Association had not experienced since 1931. At that time, the DFB-Elf conceded the highest home defeat in their history in the 0: 6 against Austria. Now, 92 years later, it could have been 0:3 after 20 minutes, maybe even 0:4 or 0:5. The final score of 2:3 (0:2) makes the 90 minutes seem much more balanced than they actually were. Because Belgium immediately put on the pitch what the German fans demanded.
They had written the following on a somewhat cryptic banner: “Leads to success – let’s go to the new summer fairy tale 2024”, it said on one of the back gate stands and the saying threw in dpa sports reporter Holger Schmidt raises the legitimate question: “But what leads to success?” The spectators above the banner uncovered a large area just in time for the kick-off: “Wille”. Willing leads to success, which in view of the disastrous initial phase suggested that the eleven of the German Football Association might simply not feel like it that evening. RTL expert Lothar Matthäus even speaks of a “complete failure”.
Less than ten minutes were played before Belgium led 2-0. Looking at the fan banner, the Belgians worked out at top speed that there is something that leads to success even more reliably than “will”: goals. The DFB selection had already had huge problems with achieving the same at the World Cup – as well as in the backward movement, which left Kevin de Bruyne and Co. an amazing amount of space and time not only in the center. There is quite a lot of preparatory work waiting for national coach Hansi Flick, and the significant increase in performance in the second half does not change that. But at least she averted a repetition of the swatter, as she had last picked up at the end of 2020 at the 0: 6 in Spain. Flick must finally develop a permanent solution for the regular and recurring phases of weakness.
Teams & Goals
Germany: ter Stegen/Barcelona (30 years/32 international matches) – Wolf/Dortmund (27/2) from 80. Vagnoman/Stuttgart (22/1), Ginter/Freiburg (29/50), Kehrer/West Ham (26/26) , Raum/Leipzig (24/17) from 68 minutes Günter/Freiburg (30/8) – Kimmich/FC Bayern (28/76), Goretzka/FC Bayern (28/50) from 32 Nmecha/Wolfsburg (22/ 1) – Gnabry/FC Bayern (27/41), Wirtz/Leverkusen (19/6) from 32. Can/Dortmund (29/39) – Füllkrug/Bremen (30/6) from 80. Berisha/Augsburg (24/ 2), Werner/Leipzig (27/57) from the 80th minute Schade/Brentford (21/2). – Trainer: flick
Belgium: Casteels/Wolfsburg (30 years/5 internationals) – Castagne/Leicester (27/31), Faes/Leicester (24/3), Vertonghen/Anderlecht (35/147) from 46. Saelemaekers/AC Milan (23/11), Theate/Rennes (22/69) – De Bruyne/Manchester City (31/99) from 79. Openda/Lens (23/8), Onana/Everton (21/6), Mangala/Nottingham (25/4) from 79 Lavia/AC Milan (19/1) – Lukebakio/Hertha BSC (25/7) from 58 Bakayoko/Eindhoven (19/2), Lukaku/Inter Milan (29/106) from 68 De Ketelaere/AC Milan ( 22/12), Carrasco/Atlético Madrid (29/64) from 58. Trossard/Arsenal (28/26). – Trainer: Tedesco
referee: Willy Delajod (France)
Gates: 0: 1 Carrasco (6th), 0: 2 Lukaku (9th), 1: 2 filling krug (44th, hand penalty), 1: 3 De Bruyne (78th), 2: 3 Gnabry (87th)
Viewers: 42.910 (sold out in Cologne)
Yellow cards: Onana, Lukaku-Nmecha
Our detailed match report can be found here.
And where is the progress on the World Cup debacle?
Defensively undetectable. In the early stages, Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich received visual lessons from the Belgian midfield around Kevin de Bruyne on how to quickly and effectively overplay a poorly placed center. The early 0: 2 is well deserved and Flick’s men are lucky that the third, fourth and fifth goal is not quickly conceded. Lothar Matthäus says of the German performance up to the 30th minute: “That was the worst thing I’ve actually seen in my long, long career.”
Emre Can provided stability in midfield.
(Photo: dpa)
At least Emre Can, who comes on for the ailing Goretzka after about half an hour, manages to provide the previously sorely missed stability alongside temporary captain Kimmich. However, Flick has to ask himself whether the Goretzka/Kimmich duo simply had a bad day – or whether this tactical orientation and formation did not meet the highest standards.
But Niclas Füllkrug did score?
That’s right, for the sixth time in the sixth international match. Significantly, with a penalty kick, the statistically safest shot at the opposing goal, with a theoretical probability of success of over 75 percent. That’s it! At half time it was 1:2, but the game was closer to 1:5 than 2:2. Timo Werner scored the supposed 2:2 after the change of sides, but as so often was called off due to an offside position. For long stretches, however, it was only Füllkrug who posed the threat of a goal.
How was it in the stadium, Tobias Nordmann?
After a good 20 minutes, the Belgian fans burst out laughing. Romelu Lukaku had just knocked over German central defender Thilo Kehrer with physical contact and was on his way to make it 3-0 (!). It was the early culmination of a quick humiliation. The end of a party that DJ Teddy-O tried to ignite with booming beats, techno and chart classics. The attempt to get closer to the people in Müngersdorf, where they know so much more about Rhenish folklore. Where “De Höhner” are closer to them than David Guetta.
In the first 20 minutes, Kimmich & Co. found absolutely no way to stop Belgium’s attacks.
(Photo: dpa)
And so, after a few tender cheers, the fans went about their favorite pastime when things were going badly, when things were going terribly. They reworked the “Wille” choreography into paper airplanes and enjoyed it when one of the black or white mini-jets sailed onto the field. Memories of dreary international matches under Flick’s predecessor Joachim Löw were awakened. In which the will was weak. However, when it came down to it, when it came down to a points tournament, this team just pulled themselves together without shining. The only problem now: There will be no more competitive games until the European Championships at home next year. And the mood threatens to change. Quite a few fans in Cologne demanded: Flick has to go.
Why wasn’t Rudi Völler actually there?
For once, the sports director of the national team wasn’t sitting in the stands, but followed the game from the comfort of his own home. “Aunt Käthe” had not made the journey from Frankfurt to the venue in Cologne, the trigger was kidney colic, as the DFB announced. This is accompanied by severe pain, can trigger nausea and vomiting, as well as sweating and increased body temperature. But the association immediately sent the good news: Völler is now “free of symptoms and resting at home”. The 62-year-old, who rejects gender and sticky protests against insufficient climate protection, should be fit again before the upcoming international matches of the German soccer team. RTL expert Lothar Matthäus wished “on behalf of all football fans a speedy recovery”.
And when will these next international matches take place?
In June. Nothing has been confirmed yet, so no specific dates either, but media reports only leave detailed questions unanswered. In Bremen, the DFB men should therefore celebrate their 1000th international match, as opponents there are many indications of Ukraine. Incidentally, a DFB selection was made for the first time on April 5, 1908, in Basel there was a 3:5 against Switzerland. Around the anniversary are noisy “sport show” an away game in Poland and a home game at Schalke against Uruguay are also planned.
What do those involved say?
Hansi Flick (national coach): “We were too cautious, too passive and couldn’t put the opponent under pressure. Belgium played it mercilessly. But passion brought us back again. Huge praise to the crowd, they felt that the team gave their all and trying to make the result better.”
Joshua Kimmich (DFB captain): “The first 30 minutes were really bad, the first 15 we weren’t on the pitch at all, very prone to making mistakes, especially with the ball, not hungry at all. That was nothing! From the 30th it was definitely better. The second half was the way we imagine it.”
Niclas Füllkrug (goal scorer): “We still showed good faces overall and showed morale. We’re proud of that. In the first half we lacked a bit of depth, so we got the first two goals too easily and too quickly. The coach reacted, then it got better.”
Lothar Matthäus (RTL expert): “It was the worst thing I’ve seen in my long, long career. They didn’t fight back in the duels that Belgians let go. But then they woke up. Emre Can and the boys convinced me, they weren’t scared . Serge Gnabry played outstandingly in the last 20 minutes. That’s how we want to see Germany.”