First bankruptcy at the start of the European Championship: Hummels stumbles into disaster

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

First bankruptcy at the start of the European Championship
Hummels stumbles DFB-Elf into misfortune

The German national soccer team has to play against the world champions at the start of the EM and loses. Because France is playing very well – and because returnees meet Mats Hummels early. Into your own goal. For the DFB there is a defeat for the first time at an EM start.

Well kept up, but too harmless and clumsy: thanks to an own goal by unlucky fellow Mats Hummels, the German national soccer team started the last tournament under national coach Joachim Löw with the first defeat at an EM finals. Three years after the disaster at the World Cup in Russia, the next sporting low blow threatens after a 0: 1 (0: 1) against a ripped off world champion France. “An unlucky goal decided the game,” said Toni Kroos.

While France coach Didier Deschamps described the game as a “duel of the titans”, Löw said: “It was a brutally intense game. We weighed everything in and fought to the end. I can’t blame the team when it comes to fighting.” But he also knew what was decisive: “What we may have missed was the penetration in the last third.”

The DFB team played enthusiastically, many things went well, but a really structured offensive game was not part of it, apart from a promising urge phase in the second half, despite the efforts of returnees Thomas Müller. “If you lose the first game, you are under pressure,” said Kroos on ZDF, but emphasized that Germany had made a “good game”: “What we lacked is a goal.” Joshua Kimmich said: “I think we weren’t the worse team. A point would have been deserved. We have the level to keep up with the top teams.” He was already looking at the second group game on Saturday (6 p.m. / ARD and MagentaTV as well as in the ntv.de live ticker): “We have to win against Portugal.” The European champions clearly defeated group outsiders Hungary 3-0.

In front of the future national coach Hansi Flick, Germany fell behind through its own fault (20th). The unfortunate Hummels underwent the second German own goal in a major tournament. At the 2014 World Cup, the defender was still the big hero with his winning goal in the quarter-finals against France (1-0).

Two hits from offside

Now light and shadow alternated with the returnee, who had to watch helplessly when Adrien Rabiot only hit the post (52nd). But he prevented a goal by Kylian Mbappé (77th) with a great tackle, who were denied two hits because of offside.

After conceding the goal, the DFB-Elf was visually superior to the pragmatic waiting French, but chances to equalize were only sparse. The best was initially owned by Serge Gnabry (54th), whose shot flew over the gate from close range. Müller previously had a chance to head the ball (22nd), but otherwise wore himself out. Champions League hero Kai Havertz, who had been given preference over Leroy Sané, was usually overwhelmed against the robust French.

In the past few days, the German camp had put up a facade out of sheer self-confidence. Calm and extremely focused – that was the clear message to the French, who should better put on good shin guards: “We have to be disgusting. Not always just nice, dear, dear,” demanded Antonio Rüdiger for dealing with the world storm from Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann and Karim Benzema.

Excitement before kick-off

Shortly before kick-off, a paraglider with a motor on his back landed on the field – a little later Joshua Kimmich was a bit too disgusting with club colleague Lucas Hernandez and saw yellow (7th). And then, after a quarter of an hour, the French warmed up. In particular, the allusions to Mbappé were now more precise. The attacker promptly checked Manuel Neuer for the first time (17th).

Three minutes later, all the good defensive resolutions were just wasted: Kimmich misjudged the advanced Hernandez with a long ball from Paul Pogba – Hummels’s cross was unsustainable for Neuer in his own goal. Berti Vogts was the only German so far in a major tournament to suffer such a mishap at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina: in a 2: 3 against Austria.

There is a lack of penetrative power on the offensive

The French played this into their cards, now they could play like they had become world champions: wait for the ball to be lost, then quickly switch. They did this with the confidence that the Germans had tried to convince themselves. However: The DFB-Elf held up well, condensed the center, was poisonous in the duels – only: Little or nothing went forward, there was a lack of ideas and power.

The German team, in which Toni Kroos and İlkay Gündoğan knew how to please as double six, really did not have to be blamed for a lack of commitment and will. She had a lot more possession, more shots, more passes, and more mileage. The result was: nothing – not even in a strong phase after the 55th minute when France actually wobbled a little.