Hansi Flick’s men, eliminated in the first phase of the 2022 World Cup, They are classified ex officio for the next Eurocup as host country. Thus, the ‘Mannschaft’ is in a long tunnel of fifteen months of friendly matches.
After beating Peru (2-0) at the end of March, the Germans then lost to Belgium (3-2) in Cologne. In the June window, they started a draw against Ukraine in Bremen (3-3) in the last minutes, and they have bowed in Warsaw against Robert Lewandowski’s Poland, eighth finalist in Qatar (eliminated by France).
Tuesday’s game in Gelsenkirchen against Colombia will be a new opportunity for the Germans to rediscover victory, which, if not achieved, will put great pressure on the ‘Mannschaft’ before the September games against Japan (9 ) in Wolfsburg, and France (12th) in Dortmund.
This Friday, Germany showed two totally different faces: in the first act she was dominated and fairly conceded the only goal of the match. At the exit of a corner, Thilo Kehrer was not attentive to the mark of Kiwior, who opened the scoring (31).
In the second act, the Germans were more determined against a Polish team that since January has been led by former Portugal coach Fernando Santos, and whose goalkeeper, Wojciech Szczesny, emerged as the savior of the locals with several merit interventions against Havertz (65), Gossens (70), Malick Thiaw (78), Marius Wolf (88) and Julian Brandt (90).
– ‘We deserved more’ –
Thiaw, who played his first game in the three-way defense with Antonio Rüdiger and Thilo Kehrer, was the pleasant surprise for the Germans.
“I am completely disappointed by the result. In the first half we had no rhythm,” Flick explained at the end of the game for the German public channel ARD.
“We still have a year left, it’s a long way and we still have time, I am confident, it is a process”, added the former Bayern Munich coach, who had coincided in his time at the Bavarian giant with the Polish striker, now in the ranks of FC Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski.
Speaking also to ARD, Gossens admitted to being disappointed by the loss.
“We played a very good second half. We have created a lot of game. We must really build on what we show in that second part, “he estimated.” We deserved something more, “she sentenced.
