Draw against defeated Danes: World champions do not take the DFB team all their worries


Draw against defeated Danes
World champions don’t take all worries away from the DFB team

In the penultimate game before the start of the European Football Championship, two world champions celebrate their DFB comeback, but the world championship does not succeed: Joachim Löw’s team takes the lead against Denmark, in the end it is not enough to win.

During the comeback of Thomas Müller and Mats Hummels in the national soccer team, Yussuf Poulsen from Leipzig appeared as a big spoiler. 13 days before the EM incident against world champions France, the 1: 1 (0: 0) against Denmark in Innsbruck could not arouse any euphoria for the last tournament of national coach Joachim Löw. Müller analyzed “RTL” aptly: “It was intense. I saw a lot of good things, but we also had a phase in the second half in which we did not get into the duels.”

In the penultimate test run, it was not the returnees and offensive boss Müller who brought the German team into the lead, but Florian Neuhaus. The Gladbach player used a confusion in the Danish defense in the 48th minute of the game. When Poulsen equalized, Hummels could not prevent the RB attacker from shooting on goal. The DFB selection was closer to victory, however: Serge Gnabry hit the bar (44th), Joshua Kimmich hit the post (77th).

In the absence of seven important field players, Löw rehearsed for the game against group favorite France in defense with a three-man chain around Hummels. “In the last row I want compactness, strength and presence. We play against top teams,” said Löw. The DFB team is still training in Tyrol until Sunday. The dress rehearsal against Latvia will take place on Monday in Düsseldorf.

Then the Champions League winners from Chelsea FC – Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Antonio Rüdiger – as well as the loser in the final Ilkay Gündogan, who are only now starting training, will be there again. Toni Kroos after a corona infection and Leon Goretzka after a muscle injury were not yet operational in Innsbruck. “The team will certainly look different than today,” announced Löw.

Denmark only has one chance

Against the physically strong Danes with a lot of Bundesliga experience, the national coach clearly focused on sharpening defensive processes. Niklas Süle defended centrally between Matthias Ginter and Hummels, who brought in his strengths. The Dortmund man radiated calm at the beginning, anticipated well, was always playable. The Danes around Leipzig’s Poulsen and Inter director Christian Eriksen didn’t have a dangerous chance in front of the goal of DFB captain Manuel Neuer until they equalized. One was enough, however.

The DFB selection increased aggressively in their search process with increasing playing time, without opening up a large number of opportunities. The Bayern trio with Leroy Sané, Serge Gnabry and Müller put the Danes under pressure early in their half, Joshau Kimmich and Neuhaus moved from midfield, who also fired the first shot (12th). A header from Müller, which went many ways, after a good Kimmich pass was held by Denmark’s goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. Sané set his direct purchase a little too high (28th). Löw commuted on the sidelines between the coaching bench and the outer edge of his coaching zone. His professionals drove loudly on the pitch, especially Müller.

From the stable defensive, the DFB selection initially developed a clear superiority, which Gnabry almost rewarded with the break. The Bayern professional skilfully positioned himself in the penalty area – but his left-hand shot only hit the crossbar. The Italian legionnaire Robin Gosens, who was still inconspicuous in the first half, prepared the German opening goal with a strong action on the left. The Danish defense did not clear his cross – Neuhaus from Gladbach had no trouble from close range and scored his second goal in the sixth international match.

The tournament newcomer used his rare chance in the DFB midfield, where Löw has an oversupply of strong players. Gosens missed the 2-0 because Schmeichel reacted well in the 54th minute. Then Eriksen played one of his dreaded passes into the depths exactly between Süle and Hummels on Poulsen, who scored to equalize. A few minutes later, Kimmich’s shot hit the post.

.