Thursday, June 03, 2021
There is always something
Niklas Süle overslept his EM chance
By Tobias Nordmann
Joachim Löw relies on a three-man chain in the national team’s first EM test match against Denmark. The national coach wants to find a defensive solution that proves to be stable. That works solidly, but there won’t be any EM future for Niklas Süle.
No, Niklas Süle didn’t play a bad game. Anyone who claims the opposite simply doesn’t mean it well with the central defender of FC Bayern. The only stupid thing is that he played a leading role in conceding the German national team’s goal in the first European Championship friendly against Denmark. In order to clarify the question of guilt, whether it was Süle who was responsible for the goal of Leipzig’s Yussuf Poulsen, or Mats Hummel’s returnee, good arguments can be found for both charges. Hummels breaks away from Poulsen early to move into the center. Knowing that Süle is close to the opponent. But the 25-year-old does not go along the Dane’s path, but starts tackling. He wants to prevent the pass. That fails. He slides past. Hummels orientates himself back, comes too late, goal, 1: 1. A scene that noticeably clouded the German mood.
National coach Joachim Löw, the judge in this scene, finally judged as follows: Süle “could have closed the pass way faster by closing the center.” Hummels could not prevent the pass. Well, it somehow fits the situation of the Bavarian defensive giant: No matter how sovereign (and he really was) his performance up to then might have been, let’s take a high-risk pass from the first half out of the equation, something is always. Now the sleepy part of the blame for the goal. And with it the part to blame for the mood brake. Will that have any consequences for his place in the team? Presumably. Because in the chain of three, the places seem to be taken. Hummels should be set. He played confidently, ensured good moments in the build-up and clear communication. Something that is absolutely important to the national coach with his silent men.
In addition to Hummels, Antonio Rüdiger can also rely on the fact that he is set. The last time he was too strong was at Chelsea, with whom he had just won the Champions League. And the fact that Hummels ennobled him as “world class” in a media round in Seefeld will not have harmed his standing. The question that remains is which formation the national coach is coming up with for the tournament. Back four? Then the central block with Hummels and Rüdiger would be clear. Triple chain, how now against Denmark? Then Matthias Ginter should be preferred to Süle. The Gladbacher is rock solid. Always a bank. (Almost) never the wrong choice.
A difficult situation with an announcement
Well that it would now be tight for Süle, that’s not a surprising finding from Innsbruck, where the game against the Danes took place. That it would be tight for Süle took a long time to start. About the season at FC Bayern and about the training camp in Seefeld. In Munich, Hansi Flick, the upcoming national coach, mostly relied on the duo David Alaba and Jérôme Boateng. At least in the crucial games. And Lucas Hernández also had a place in front of the giant, who should have been boss in the middle of the defense for both the record champions and the DFB team. At least that was the plan a few years ago.
“The last few weeks have been difficult for him,” said Löw just a few days ago about Süle, who was injured in April and for whom a separate fitness program was worked out in addition to normal training: “He needs resilience and hard units, he will do a lot more “said Loew. Süle had to “work hard to build up the form,” emphasized DFB director Oliver Bierhoff and praised the 25-year-old’s “uncanny quality”. “My hope,” said Bierhoff emphatically, “is that if he works in such a circle, he can build on his achievements again.” That would actually be important for his immediate future at Bayern. There are always reports that he is playing on probation. His contract ends in 2022, a decision on a possible extension or a sale in the summer should be made in the near future.
By the way: After a technical error while holding the ball up during a training session in Seefeld, Süle got a couple of painful ear snaps from his teammates. There is always something.
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