A struggling DFB squad faces skepticism about its readiness for the European Championship.
What's going on with the German national football team? The game against Greece on Friday seemed lacking in excitement and on the verge of becoming a major downer. The players remained composed.
During their game against Ukraine on Monday, the German footballers could have bragged a bit about the numerous goal opportunities they created. It was a warm-up for their European Championship in their home country. But that wasn't enough. Because they didn't score any goals from these opportunities, and defensively, they weren't yet watertight and impenetrable. They needed to polish their performance in Mönchengladbach against Greece, who are ranked 50th in the world. But things didn't go as planned. A close win with a 2:1 (0:1) was achieved, but it was far from perfect. What remains after the match: the reassuring feeling that a botched dress rehearsal can lead to a successful premiere. Not much to be excited about...
But there was no disappointment either, as the German team stood firm against the possibility of ending the match with a draw or even a loss. Joker Pascal Groß scored the winning goal in the 89th minute, while Kai Havertz only managed the equalizer in the second half (56th). The Greeks were passionate and courageous, and their goal by Giorgos Masouras (34th) was well-deserved.
The morale of the German team remains intact, a crucial lesson learned. This is likely the most important takeaway from this match, which prompted many questions. For example, whether the excitement from recent successes had clouded their judgment? "Too cliché. The mood is not that bad. It's good; we're training well," said national coach Julian Nagelsmann. "We've placed the games in November and March wisely. These were essential steps. Today was another significant step. We're more stable than we were in November. But we need playing time to improve our tactics."
"It was a test of the psyche too"
There were alarming gaps in the defense during counterattacks. The Greeks penetrated the German half several times, were handled casually. In some cases, they were even ignored. If the guests hadn't left enormous opportunities for the German side to score, the crowd could have become more agitated. When the second half began, and the audience could sense that the team was starting to exert more control over the game, the whistles quieted down a bit. The fans accepted the less-than-perfect performance as long as they could see the team's determination to win. It was heartening to see this quality being reestablished before the European Championship, and it's more than a glimmer of hope. Given the individual talents in the squad, there was no reason to be concerned, even if experienced players like Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz didn't show their best form.
However, Nagelsmann doesn't want to dampen the spirits with negative thoughts. "It was also a test for the psyche to handle the pressure. I found that very valuable," he said. "The stadium was not satisfied, neither were we at half-time. We needed to show a reaction, and we did. In the second half, we had more control. The win was crucial to keep the fans on our side. A late goal always helps." German Champion Leverkusen knows this well.
Even team captain Ilkay Gündoğan was trying to focus on the positive aspects of their performance. "The first half was slow, and we were ruthlessly punished by the Greeks. But that's not our standard. We managed to make it 2:1 and win the game. Julian Nagelsmann made a statement at halftime and warned that the same could happen next week. So we can't allow ourselves such a first half." "We can learn a lot from these two games for the tournament. I don't see it as a major setback; it's a learning process, and our awareness has been sharpened." And Toni Kroos, the Champions League winner and a high hope, was keeping his cool. "You know that bad halves are part of football." He himself had experienced this recently in the first half of the King's Class final against Borussia Dortmund, where Real was clearly outmatched but managed to win. "We're not as good as we've been lately - but also not as bad as we used to be."
But in the midst of all the calmness, the memories of past disappointments surface. Some moments on this Friday brought back memories of 2022 2021, 2018. Greece charged at the team with two players against a single defender. Fans in the stadium felt reminded of Mexico, South Korea, or Japan. The highly praised defensive axis was under threat multiple times.
Commentary:
The German national football team seemed to have lost their spark during their recent game against Greece. While the victory was celebrated, the performance was less than ideal, raising questions about their preparedness for the upcoming European Championship. Despite an abundance of opportunities to score goals, they could not translate them into victories, and they also struggled with defending counterattacks. National coach, Julian Nagelsmann, maintained that the game was a test for the psychologically crucial element - handling pressure. Ilkay Gündoğan and Toni Kroos have also chimed in with their thoughts, emphasizing that bad halves are an inevitable aspect of playing football. The team seems to view this match as a learning experience, using it to sharpen their senses and improve their tactical prowess.
This story has a different tone now. Kroos in his royal Madrid attire looks less intimidating and more leisurely. Rudiger, a worn-out defensive leader at the Champions League powerhouse, gets beaten multiple times by players who've never played in the final, let alone the Champions League. Gundogan, who rose to be the top scorer for Manchester City during the Haaland period, emanates nothing but a dearth of goal threats in Mönchengladbach.
Then there's Neuer. In the Bundesliga season, there are signs of missteps in his otherwise enchanting ball control. Is the unique feature of the best goalkeeper, his passing game, now a liability? These small errors can be easily overlooked. The foul against Ukraine can be charmed away. But off the field, nothing changes. The mistake in the Greece game bears more weight, as it's about the fundamental part of his job. The uncertainty at the back leads to a goal and overshadows his phenomenal Heroics during the initial phase of the game. Finding solutions through player replacement is almost impossible. Nagelsmann comforts Neuer after the final whistle. Kroos and Rudiger still give off the feeling of invincibility on the field.
In Kroos' case, fans worldwide will watch his final mesmerizing moments at the pinnacle of his career. It's possible that Gundogan - the captain aside - is the most replaceable at the moment. And that's partly because Leroy Sane's mix of goal scoring and speed surpasses both Gundogan and Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala. Nagelsmann stays until the start of the tournament for just one more week. The clock is ticking. And the hunch that all is well is fading fast.
Read also:
The DFB squad's preparation for the European Football Championship 2024 includes working on their defensive weaknesses, as evident in the close calls against Greece and Ukraine. Manuel Neuer, the German team's veteran goalkeeper, is also focusing on improving his passing game to ensure his performances remain exceptional on the field. To boost their offensive potential, manager Julian Nagelsmann has hinted at potentially incorporating prodigious talents like Leroy Sane into the national soccer team.
