Hansi Flick likes this draw. The national coach draws a positive balance after the 1-1 draw in the Netherlands. The specifications are implemented, personnel alternatives are available. The 57-year-old sees the DFB-Elf on a good course for the World Cup in Qatar.
One might have guessed that Hansi Flick would not be in the best of moods late on Tuesday evening, after all, something historic had happened in Amsterdam. The not-so-new national coach had not won for the first time in his managerial career at the German Football Association (DFB). The series of eight wins was followed by a draw against the Netherlands, the furious test ended 1-1 after goals from Thomas Müller (45th) and Steven Bergwijn (68th). A result that matched things on the pitch.
Now Hansi Flick’s mood, which was damn good, can possibly be explained like this. His impressive streak, no matter how nice the victories may have been, was constantly accompanied by a “yes, but…”. Yes, everything is great, but these opponents! They really weren’t (so the critics barked) a yardstick for the big goals that were being proclaimed. A little reminder: The title is supposed to come from Qatar, where the World Cup will be held in winter (still sounds crazy). Yes, sounds crazy, but that’s how it is. Manuel Neuer had provided verbal proof of this these days. So now the liberation: Flicks Germany can also do it against the top nations. And that too without injured or prevented permanent staff such as Niklas Süle, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka or Serge Gnabry.
The national coach then wanted to give his team a “huge compliment” – especially for the dominant first 60 minutes. “Simply refreshing,” Flick praised the performance at the first international benchmark. “I know that we have to perform like this for the full 90 minutes. But the intensity of the team was extremely high,” summed up the DFB head coach. “We’re heading in the right direction,” said goal scorer Thomas Müller after the decent start to the World Cup year, including the 2-0 win against Israel. “If you draw a line under it, we’re on the right track,” said captain Manuel Neuer. Well then, let’s go in medias res and take a look at the playing staff in the individual review:
Manuel Neuer: Oh yes, what else can one say about the captain than: It’s good that he’s there. At first you didn’t even notice that he was playing his 109th international match, but then even more so. Earned the title as head fistballer in the national team around the 80th minute. In the hosts’ urge phase, boxed out everything that sailed into his habitat (and that was quite a lot). He was powerless when Bergwijn conceded an extremely powerful shot from a very short distance under the bar.
Thilo Kehrer: There has been a lot of talk about and with the Paris St. Germain player in the past few days. And this strengthened the impression that he is one of Flick’s favorite students. Other colleagues from the DFB team can warm to the qualities of the defensive player. Thomas Müller, for example, praised its versatility! A great word for fans to remember. What that means: Well, earlier one would have said: Kehrer can be used flexibly. Of course it sounds a lot more boring! Of course, Herr Polyvalent also played against the Netherlands and was in the starting XI for the ninth time in the Flick era, but this time he showed unusual weaknesses defensively and could hardly do anything with the space on his side in the forward movement. Once had a mighty beef with Leroy Sané when both players had different ideas about the path. After a duel, Kehrer was lucky that a penalty was canceled by VAR. He had clearly brought Memphis Depay down, but still touched the ball with his toe… From the 79th minute Benjamin Henrichs: The man from Leipzig had a lot to do in the hectic final phase to stop the Oranje vortex. Did that well.
Antonio Ruediger: Still rested against Israel, the powerful central defender was back on the pitch and did his job reliably and robustly as usual. Even if he sometimes had trouble following the nimble Dutchmen. In the middle of the first half he just caught up with Donyell Malen from Dortmund and knocked him out of step with a very light bump in the penalty area. Clever and dosed so well that it wasn’t enough for a penalty. Otherwise, in his 50th international match, he directed the defense well for a long time and was usually the winner in the air, but took the decisive step too late when equalizing, so Bergwijn had room to nail the ball past Neuer.
Nico Schlotterbeck: The Freiburger was still the man of the game against Israel. On all levels. He made a furious DFB debut on the Sinsheimer turf until injury time, before allowing himself a small “attack of arrogance”, according to ZDF expert Per Mertesacker. Flick also took the player aside and explained to him that such a sloppy pass at a World Cup could end “deadly”. Schlotterbeck had understood and was now concentrating on avoiding further mistakes. What succeeded, he saved the draw in the 82nd minute with a strong action just in front of his own goal line. This time, however, the build-up was not as courageous as it was against Israel. But when he dared, it was usually dangerous.
David Room: Hoffenheim, who hits the most crosses in the Bundesliga, was again much more offensive than his right-hand counterpart Kehrer. The 23-year-old had a huge chance of scoring his first international goal a few minutes after the break – or a fantastic assist for Timo Werner, who was a few meters from him in the middle of the penalty area. Raum chose the shot option, went wrong. Bitter for him, bitter for Werner. Was jumped just before the goal line by Denzel Dumfries before conceding. From the 86th minute Christian Günter: Was happy about his fourth appearance for Germany, there is nothing more to say.
Jamal Musiala: It’s hard to imagine, but it wouldn’t have taken much for Musiala to play for Germany, but for England. He had both options. Luckily for the DFB and for Hansi Flick, he chose his country of birth and is becoming more and more of a luxury problem for the national coach. FC Bayern’s diamond was able to prove himself as a “six” for the first time under Flick – and was the best German outfield player. Skilful in one-on-one, accurate passing, a good eye – his whole game looks so wonderfully easy, even when he acts robustly. In this form it is more than just an alternative. Flick knows that too and sings a hymn: “Every individual saw the quality he had. In possession of the ball, it was also clear beforehand that he knows very well how to assert himself and create space for his own team. He is very good in one-on-ones. He can prepare balls well. What he did on defense was outstanding.” From the 69th minute Florian Neuhaus: Helped to bring the draw over time. Must prove himself in Gladbach.
Ilkay Gundogan: The Manchester City playmaker was nowhere near as present in central midfield as Musiala. And thus less conspicuous than during his 45 minutes against Israel. But it increased in Amsterdam with almost every minute. Had more possession and better ideas in the second half. With his clever positional play, he stopped many of Oranje’s attacks at an early stage.
Kai Havertz: The potential key player of the German team in this World Cup year was not as dominant as against Israel. Was careful about safety passes and showed only a few dribbles. Was delivered again and again cleverly by the ripped off Daley Blind. The Champions League winner was on the road a lot looking for free space. So it didn’t come to an end for a long time. From the 69th minute Julian Brandt: The only Dortmund player got a few more international minutes from Flick, but was unable to advertise himself. For the World Cup he is probably only a substitute candidate.
Thomas Müller: Oh yes, Müllerthomas, it’s simply impossible to imagine this team without him, even if he didn’t succeed in everything. Was always on the go, unyielding when pressing, a real pain in the ass for the opponent. And by the way, he caught up with the legend Uwe Seeler with his 43rd international goal. With official karacho he threw the ball just past the post. A powerful finish to a powerful attack initiated by Musiala.
Leroy Sane: The FC Bayern winger had the first chance when he only hit the side netting after a pass from Müller. But then with some playback errors, his body language suffered as a result. Improved slightly after the change of sides, but kept struggling with the passes from colleagues. Not in the form of the first internationals under Flick. The line between casual and careless with him remains extremely narrow. From the 86th minute Julian Draxler: Just a short assignment like so often at Paris Saint-Germain. Too little time for accents.
Tim Werner: The Chelsea striker, where he is not having a happy phase, continues to get Flick’s trust. And he did his job solidly. Was poisonous when pressing, had good running paths and had his feet in the game when Müller made it 1-0. Headed a ball over the bar but was caught offside. His best chance of scoring was denied by Raum, who preferred to score himself rather than lay it down to the free Werner. He could hardly believe the egoism of the outside player and clearly showed him what the better idea would have been. From the 80th minute Lukas Nmecha: Is a completely different type than Werner, much more beefy striker. He immediately looked for the end and almost stung late as a joker after Müller’s pass.