Subpar national squad - The national team barely edges out Greece in their final European Championship trial game.
In this case, the text won't become a new football fairytale. Even though substitute Pascal Groß managed to score a goal right before the end, giving Germany a 2:1 (0:1) win against Greece in their last practice match before the tournament, there are more questions than hope for the local championship. German soccer coach Julian Nagelsmann needs to make some changes to his 26-man crew in the next two days, as fans look forward to cheering in Munich on Friday.
In the 56th minute, Kai Havertz successfully scored after a sloppy and careless first half from the German team. Benjamin Henrichs missed a goal before Groß's (83%) shot off the post. However, the German team still showed some determination.
The Greeks exhibited a lot of heart in the Borussia Park and earned their 1 goal from Giorgos Masouras (34th minute). The striker took advantage of a massive error from Manuel Neuer, who failed as a dependable number one goalkeeper. UEFA Champions League winners Toni Kroos and Antonio Rudiger weren't able to transfer the mentality from Real Madrid to the national team.
Nagelsmann's Dream Team Disappoints
The poor performance during the first half gives coach Nagelsmann something to worry about. He sent out the same starting XI that should play in the EM in front of 45,488 people in the sold-out Borussia Park. He already announced this formation weeks ago, as he had said.
Nagelsmann's dream team failed to show what would be necessary to succeed in the home tournament for 45 minutes: speed, strength, ball control, and most importantly, any sense of an imminent EM. The Greeks, who were eliminated in the European Championship playoffs against the outsider Georgia in March, sometimes seemed to be preparing for an important tournament - not the European Championships in Germany.
A serious error by Neuer was a major issue in the 33rd minute, symbolizing the sluggish and erroneous play of the German team for the entire first half. Jamal Musiala gave up the ball after a careless pass from Jonathan Tah. Then, towards the end of this chain of errors, Neuer made a mistake. A harmless shot from Christos Tzolis bounced right in front of Masouras. And the Hertha BSC striker scored from close range.
Fans Booed at Halftime
Neuer's mistake also overshadowed a fantastic save he had made in the sixth minute, preventing an early Greek lead. The Bayern goalkeeper blocked two attempts from Tzolis close to the goal.
The way the first half was played was also demonstrated by a very dangerous and unsuccessful cross pass from Musiala in the midfield. These mistakes were common for the German team during the entire first half.
Fans even booed during halftime due to the team's poor performance. Nagelsmann responded to the disappointed crowd by making some substitutions, bringing in Leroy Sané and David Raum. These changes had two impacts. First, the whole team showed improvement. Second, Sané gave new life to the previously ineffective attack.
The equalizer through Havertz's 16th goal was assisted by Sané at the right-wing position.
Sané is a crucial player who can compete with the regulars at the EM. The Bayern star's performance was the most dynamic and energetic at the match. This could make him a viable option as a substitute for Florian Wirtz or even as a number ten for the captain Ilkay Gündogan, who hasn't shown any signs of life and is playing out of position.
Read also:
- Despite Manuel Neuer's impressive save in the sixth minute, his error in the 33rd minute allowed Giorgos Masouras to score for Greece, causing concern for coach Julian Nagelsmann.
- Real Madrid duo Toni Kroos and Antonio Rüdiger struggled to translate their club success into the national team, leaving fans yearning for a more cohesive performance.
- Kai Havertz, who had a disappointing first half, found his form in the second, scoring the equalizer in the 83rd minute after a well-executed Bayern Munich team move involving Leroy Sane.
- While Benjamin Henrichs missed a goal opportunity before Halftime, substitute Pascal Groß's late goal secured a 2:1 victory for Germany over Greece, but doubts remained about the team's readiness for the European Championship.
- German fans and media question whether midfielder Toni Kroos and center-back Antonio Rüdiger, both key figures in Los Blancos' Champions League triumph, can effectively adapt their skills to the national team setting, as the team prepares for the home tournament against Ukraine.
