Tuesday June 22, 2021
“Different Mind Games”
What if Müller really can’t play?
Thomas Müller will probably miss the German national soccer team in the decisive European Championship group game against Hungary. This is a problem, but the solution is already obvious. Meanwhile, they want to turn off another one quickly.
No, he did not want to attract the attention of a commission, said Mats Hummels, but he still wanted to make his message clear: “I am an absolute friend of sending messages of this kind out into the world,” said Hummels. He was “a friend of such gestures”, emphasized the defender of Borussia Dortmund. Of course, the evening press conference before the game against Hungary in the camp of the German national soccer team was about the forbidden illumination of the Munich EM arena in the rainbow colors. UEFA had banned the non-partisan gesture of solidarity with the LGBQT community and thus aroused a great deal of anger.
National coach Joachim Löw would also have been “personally very happy if the stadium had been illuminated in these colors when the lights had come on,” said Löw before the game on Wednesday (9 p.m. / ZDF, MagentaTV and in the livestream on ntv.de) ). At the same time, Löw made it clear that for him “despite all the importance of symbols” it was even more important that the values for diversity, free sexual orientation and human dignity represented by the rainbow flag “are also lived”. This is the case in the national team, emphasized Löw. The DFB-Elf will always set an example. Against Hungary, captain Manuel Neuer will wear a captain’s armband in a rainbow design. He was allowed to do so by UEFA – after the association had previously started investigations against Neuer.
“Different Mind Games”
Löw cannot influence things around the field, but how the German team works on advancing on the field, that is the sole responsibility of the national coach. And before the last group game he has to answer an important question: What to do with Thomas Müller? He’s been hurt since the Portugal game, it hurts in the knee. While the colleagues were rehearsing the emergency in the final training session in Herzogenaurach, the Bayern veteran was cared for and trotted around the square.
Whether he will be available tomorrow to ensure the round of 16 is still open. Only after a final endurance test a few hours before kick-off would he decide whether the leader of the German offensive against Hungary, with his knee injured, is “fit for action,” said Löw. There are many indications that the Munich will rather suspend.
Because he is too important as a freelance offensive artist for the German game for Löw to have to take full risks in this early tournament phase. And there is no need, because Löw has top-class replacements ready. The logical force to complete the offensive row of three with Serge Gnabry and Kai Havertz in the event of Müller’s failure would be Leroy Sané. The national coach will probably continue to call him “Leroy Sahne” until the last second of his long term in office – and for the time being he will probably still not have it in mind for the starting XI. Of course, “there are different mind games and possibilities in the choice of personnel,” said Löw mysteriously. And Leroy Sahne, pardon, Sané also bring the right attitude to the field and there is little to complain about at Bayern’s wingman, but at the DFB he will probably stay on the siding for the time being.
Instead, Leon Goretzka is probably the man of choice to replace the Müller package. “I feel at home in the tournament,” said Goretzka after his 17-minute comeback against Portugal. The 26-year-old knows that it would be a big task to replace Müller. The returnee was a good organizer of the offensive series with Kai Havertz and Serge Gnabry against Portugal. “Thomas always brings life into it, momentum in it, can transfer that to his colleagues,” said Goretzka, knowing about the big task of replacing Leader Müller. But yes, “I trust myself to be in the position,” he said confidently. And Löw knows that: “In training he makes a very good impression, very dynamic. I think he’s absolutely ready,” said the outgoing national coach. He didn’t want to look too deeply into the cards, of course, but the trend is probably in the same direction: Goretzka for Müller, the rest stays the same.
After the convincing performance against Portugal there is no reason to change. “We know that we have only taken a small step,” warned Loew. He expects “the same performance, the same attitude” as at the exciting performance last Saturday. “The game against Hungary won’t be that open,” said Löw. The Magyars could “despair” an opponent with their defensive strength.
Standards as a door opener
The offensive standard situations, which the German team did not want to succeed at all in the last few weeks and in the first two games of this European Championship, could become all the more important. No, you didn’t practice it again in the days between group matches, said Löw, but of course it’s an issue. Especially when the tight all-or-nothing games come up. According to the national coach, it is quite possible that the standards complex will be discussed separately again tomorrow before the game.
The topic also worries Mats Hummels, the central defender who is actually dangerous in his own corners. The Dortmund man, who had “only managed a half-baked attempt against the French”, urged more effectiveness. And above all: “We want to show right from the start that we will make the next round clear,” said defender Mats Hummels determined. In contrast to Müller, the head of defense reported that he was ready for action the day before the game. The next atmospheric appearance should follow the 4: 2 against Portugal. “We want to make the spectators happy,” said the 32-year-old Hummels. That would work best with a win, but a draw would be enough to advance safely.
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