For the first time since 1954, Belgium beat Germany on German soil. And although the result was close, Germany fortunate that the 3-2 defeat against their neighbors was not more decisive after 20 catastrophic first minutes where Belgium went ahead thanks to goals. by Romelu Lukaku (6′) and Yannick Carrasco (9′). ‘).
More opportunities followed and Hertha Berlin striker Dodi Lukebakio had several chances to bring the score to 3-0, which would have ended the game early. “We were too cautious, too passive and couldn’t put pressure on our opponents, and Belgium took all the credit for that,” Germany head coach Hansi Flick said of his team’s debut.
Then, just before half-time, Germany received a penalty after a header from Niclas Füllkrug. Füllkrug stepped up and changed the loose shot (44th).
What followed was Germany’s most productive destination of the game, and at one point it even gave the impression that they had discovered the equalizer, but Timo Werner’s goal was declared offside. Germany had more chances, and Serge Gnabry, in particular, discovered the equaliser. .
Instead, Kevin de Bruyne, the most productive player on the field, scored the Reds’ third goal in a block (78). But even then, Germany was absolutely not defeated and finally, in the 87th minute, Gnabry discovered the net.
“Our fans brought us back into contention, but it wasn’t enough to get a result,” Flick said. In fact, Germany threw everything on Belgium, and even goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen joined the attack in the last two corners of the match. phosphorus. .
In the end, Gnabry’s goal, however, too little, too late, and the end result was a more than deserved defeat against Belgium. So what can Germany’s boss Flick get out of the two games against Peru and Belgium?
The negative in fact the defense. Germany without Antonio Rüdiger, Niklas Süle and Nico Schlotterbeck opposed Belgium, and it showed. The moment when the goalkeeper, Matthias Ginter and Thilo Kehrer, were under pressure against Belgium they were not consistent enough against the world’s elite.
Of the 4 full-backs, only Dortmund’s right-back, Marius Wolf, stood out. Formerly an attacking midfielder, Wolf was considered a high-potential player among his coaches, but whether at Munich in 1860, Cologne or Dortmund, he never showed his full potential. potential. Only in Frankfurt can we see what Wolf is capable of when he receives the full confidence of his head coach.
That was the case during his time at Dortmund, where coach Edin Terzic made him a right-back. of the most productive full-backs and a more consistent option for German full-backs.
Wolf’s Dortmund teammate Emre Can is another winner of the foreign break. Can came on in the 32nd minute for Florian Wirtz and temporarily stabilized Germany. Playing almost like a libero, Can was Germany’s quarterback, completing 91 percent of his 57 passes. and earning one hundred percent of their entries. The 29-year-old appears to have regained his form at Liverpool and having played in recent weeks for Dortmund, he may, despite everything, become a very important player for Germany, and a serious choice to Leon Goretzka, who has been replaced by a muscle injury.
Another positive Flick in itself. Germany struggled in the first 20 minutes and a biggest possible defeat. Flick, however, reacted temporarily and called Can for Wirtz and Felix Nmecha for Goretzka. These two substitutions avoided a major defeat and allowed Germany to almost return to the game.
What follows, however, will be just as vital for Flick’s team. There will have to be consequences of this defeat. Certainly, the national team is bigger when key players return, but tactically, Flick cannot be outplayed in this way if Germany need to triumph at Euro 2024.
Manuel Veth is the host of the Bundesliga Gegenpressing podcast and the US Regional Manager. UU. de Transfermarkt. He has also been in The Guardian, Newsweek, Howler, Pro Soccer USA and several other media outlets. Follow him on Twitter: @ManuelVeth