In Nations League against Hungary
Hacken dream goal surprised weak DFB-Elf
09/23/2022, 10:39 p.m
Even in the third season of the Nations League, the German national team missed out on progress. The DFB team lost their last home game before the Qatar World Cup against Hungary. A dream goal by a former Bundesliga player makes all the difference. At least national coach Flick & Co. managed to stay up.
After his first defeat as national coach, Hansi Flick trudged into the dressing room completely served. Two months before the World Cup in Qatar, there were suddenly huge doubts about the fifth star mission of the German national soccer team. After the sobering 0: 1 (0: 1) against Hungary in the 14th international match under Flick, the final tournament in the Nations League is out of reach.
A dream goal with a hoe by captain Adam Szalai (17th) secured the guests in Leipzig the lead in the table. The DFB-Elf played a terrible first half without any fire and creativity. Despite the increase in performance after the change of sides, the first bankruptcy in the ninth international match in Leipzig could no longer be prevented. Flick still has two games left until Qatar to get the four-time world champion in tournament form after all: The last opponent in the Nations League is on Monday (8.45 p.m. / RTL and in the live ticker on ntv.de) in Wembley EM runner-up England, the World Cup Dress rehearsal in Oman on November 16th.
Germany: ter Stegen/Barcelona (30 years/29 international matches) – Hofmann/Gladbach (30/15), Süle/Dortmund (27/41), Rüdiger/Real Madrid (29/54), Raum/Leipzig (24/10) – Kimmich /FC Bayern (27/69), Gündoğan/Manchester City (31/61) from 69. Musiala/FC Bayern (19/16) – Gnabry/FC Bayern (27/35) from 46. Kehrer/West Ham (26/ 21), Müller/FC Bayern (33/117) from 86 Lukas Nmecha/Wolfsburg (23/7), Sané/FC Bayern (26/46) – Werner/Leipzig (26/54) from 69 Havertz/Chelsea ( 23/29). – Trainer: flick
Hungary: Gulacsi/Leipzig (32 years/50 internationals) – Lang/Nicosia (29/52), Orban/Leipzig (29/34), Attila Szalai/Fenerbahçe (24/28) – Fiola/Fehervar (32/49), Nagy/ Pisa (27/64) from 78. Styles/Millwall (22/7), Schäfer/Union Berlin (23/21), Kerkez/Alkmaar (18/1) – Gazdag/Philadelphia (26/16) from 67. Kleinheisler/ Osijek (28/43), Szoboszlai/Leipzig (21/25) from 86. Nego/Fehervar (31/25) – Adam Szalai/Basel (34/85) from 67. Adam/Ulsan (27/7). – Trainer: rossi
Referee: Slavko Vincic (Slovenia)
Goal: 0-1 Adam Szalai (17′)
Viewers: 39.513 (sold out in Leipzig)
Yellow cards: Kimmich, Ruediger – Adam Szalai
Particularly worrying: With the exception of the Corona failures Manuel Neuer and Leon Goretzka, the 39,513 spectators in the sold-out Leipzig Arena saw an eleven that also seems conceivable at the World Cup opener against Japan (November 23). “You can’t say that in this form,” emphasized Flick on ZDF, referring to “a lot of quality and potential” in his squad and starting candidates like Jamal Musiala or Kai Havertz.
He preferred the latter to Timo Werner in the center of the attack, from whom he wanted to see “deep runs” behind the densely staggered Hungarian defence. But RB professional Werner owed a lot in “his” home game. In general, the offensive around substitute captain Thomas Müller, who wore the new “One Love” bandage, found no means against well-assorted guests. The role was initially all about the mourning for storm idol Uwe Seeler, to whom the choreography (“FUR UWE”) was also dedicated.
A few chances, but no return
The pass paths to organizer Joshua Kimmich were also consistently blocked, Goretzka substitute İlkay Gündoğan initially did not pose any danger as a game trigger. The defense around boss Antonio Rüdiger and side man Niklas Süle seemed uncertain. Neuer’s “eternal” deputy Marc-André ter Stegen had to reach behind him at the first Hungarian chance: Müller came too late after a corner against veteran Szalai. A little later Ter Stegen saved against Daniel Gazdag (25th). Müller per head (39th) was the only DFB star to get the ball on goal in the first half.
With the restart, Flick took out Serge Gnabry, one of the four crisis Bavarians in his initial formation. First-leg goal scorer Jonas Hofmann moved forward, substitute Thilo Kehrer took over from the back four on the right. Leroy Sané (51st) had the equalizer on his feet, but failed because of goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi, along with Willi Orban and Dominik Szoboszlai one of three Leipzig players in Hungary.
The German team now showed a much more intense pressing, stood higher when in possession of the ball, played more alert, more active – and suddenly dominant. The balls finally found their way into the dangerous zones. Müller defeated Gulacsi (53′), but passer Hofmann was ruled offside – no goal. Werner (57th) missed his only chance and later had to make way for Havertz, but a target player was missing for crosses. Martin Adam (72nd) could have increased, Ter Stegen held strong. Gulacsi defused Kimmich’s powerful volley (77′). Ter Stegen also saved against Laszlo Kleinheisler (86′).