“Afraid of falling into a hole”
Soccer Germany devastated
After 2018, Germany fails again in the World Cup group stage. A reality that one still has to come to terms with in the country of the four-time world champion.
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Everything was fine then: Expert Bastian Schweinsteiger (right) with DFB coach Hansi Flick and ARD presenter Esther Sedlaczek before the game against Costa Rica.
“The end of a great football nation,” headlines the “Bild” in its commentary on the morning after the World Cup out. The largest newspaper in Germany hits the mood perfectly.
The 2014 world champions, who now analyze German games for TV as experts, are particularly critical. “Hansi Flick has gambled something up,” says Sami Khedira on ARD. Flick’s starting line-up with Joshua Kimmich as a full-back but without a real centre-forward who uses the flanks didn’t work out, Khedira thinks. Nevertheless, he would stick with Flick as national coach.
It gets explosive when Flick appears for an interview with moderator Esther Sedlaczek and expert Bastian Schweinsteiger. “Bastian Schweinsteiger said he had the feeling that the other teams were always on fire more than the German national team. Do you agree with him? »Sedlaczek asks the DFB coach. “No,” Flick replies. The moderator digs deeper: “Why not?” “Because that’s absolute nonsense. How do you do that?” Flick now addresses Schweinsteiger directly.
“There are situations on the field where the players lack the five percent concentration,” explains Schweinsteiger. “If you look at the 1:1 today. And burning doesn’t just mean always attacking, but also being there in your head. Too often we released the opponent and didn’t deliver it, especially the defenders.” The national coach goes back to counterattack: «Yes, that’s the way it is. We got goals, made mistakes. I don’t see that the team isn’t on fire. She wanted it.”
Big emptiness at Kimmich
Joshua Kimmich’s mood is less charged, but all the more empty. “For me personally, this is the worst day of my career,” says the 27-year-old. “I’m afraid I’ll fall into a hole! It makes you think, these failures are connected to my person!» Hard words from the Bayern professional, who after the 2018 World Cup (group phase) and the 2021 European Championship (round of 16) has to digest the next disappointment with the national team on today’s flight home.
Speaking of the flight home: According to the information from “Bild”, this was already booked just in case. In other words, the end after the group phase was considered before the last game. That also doesn’t fit in with the German self-image of a once great football nation. (cmu)
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