Project group head lives
The most important game of the Flick era so far
3/29/2022, 5:06 p.m
The game against the Netherlands is the most important in Hansi Flick’s tenure so far. It’s not just against the archrival, it’s about much more. A win could open a surprising door. Here you can find out where it is, what has to happen for it and what all this has to do with Nico Schulz.
That hasn’t happened to Hansi Flick either: Tonight’s game against the Netherlands is not just a friendly, but also one about the possibility of surprisingly ending up in the first pot in the World Cup draw this Friday. In addition to hosts Qatar, there are the seven strongest teams in the world rankings. They are the group leaders at the World Cup in the desert state, which begins in November. And Germany can claw one of these coveted places, not on its own, but at least with a lot of help from other nations.
So what has to happen for Flick to succeed in the big World Cup sensation? The first condition is clear. In Amsterdam, a win against arch-rivals is needed, just like almost exactly three years ago, on March 24, 2019. At that time, up-and-coming international Nico Schulz scored the winning goal in the 90th minute to kick off the European Championship qualifiers, Germany won 3-2 .
“Nico Schulz is where a goalscorer has to be and Kroos discovers the fighter in himself,” wrote the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” at the time about the victory in the 43rd meeting between the two arch-rivals. The Netherlands then won the 44th game in September 2019 4-2. However, that shouldn’t happen today, even without Nico Schulz and Toni Kroos, who are no longer available for various reasons, in order to meet condition one. A win is mandatory for the project group head.
Ronaldo’s career must end
“Every win we achieve gives us even more confidence in our own strength,” says national coach Hansi Flick, who may not even know about the surprising possibility and will hopefully be informed in time to witness the historic game in Porto be. There, Portugal with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo takes on the favorites from North Macedonia. They had already made European football history last week when they kicked the European champions out of the tournament with a 1-0 win against Italy before the opening game even kicked off.
“Football is different at the moment. Anyone can beat anyone. Names, numbers and statistics don’t matter,” said Portugal’s Joao Moutinho before the game against the small nation, which is only 67th in the world rankings. Which at least doesn’t bother top politician Stevo Pendarovski. “Get ready, you’re next,” he tweeted in the direction of Cristiano Ronaldo, whose international career could end today with his 186th cap. Although the superstar didn’t want to commit himself in advance, he would hardly be able to cope with another defeat at home against a southern European midget. Another defeat?
In the 13th international match of the then superstar-in-the-making, Portugal hosted the great underdog Greece for the final of the 2004 European Football Championship. Ronaldo had just turned 19, played in midfield with Deco and Luis Figo and had to watch Angelos Charisteas make Otto Rehhagel European champion . So that Germany doesn’t fail in the group head project, North Macedonia has to provide a new Charisteas today and Hansi Flick & Co. then have to wait at least one night before you know which potty it’s going to go to.
Because everything else will then be decided in the last few games over on the other side of the ocean. We’ll keep it short. The USA around BVB star Gio Reyna cannot win their last qualifying game in Costa Rica and Mexico cannot get all three points at home against the players from El Salvador, who lost in the qualification. The games will take place in the night from Wednesday to Thursday and could mean the successful end of the group head project for Germany.
Because little is in the hands of the national team, but they can influence their fate with a win, the motto for national coach Hansi Flick today is: give it your all and see what comes of it in the end. Because the ninth victory in the ninth game as national coach could dramatically improve the starting position at the tournament in Qatar. In addition to the hosts, teams like France, Brazil, Spain and Lionel Messi’s Argentines are sure to be in pot 1.