The surprising defeat at the start of the World Cup against Japan not only spoils the mood in the DFB team, it also seems to get on your nerves. Before the group showdown against Spain, the team comes together for a discussion and wards off criticism of Hansi Flick.
In a crisis meeting, national coach Hansi Flick and the 26 German World Cup players said they worked hard and intensively on the false start of the tournament against Japan. “Everyone knows what’s going on after the meeting,” said offensive player Kai Havertz in Al-Shamal. The debate should end on Sunday (8 p.m. in the ntv.de live ticker) in the much-needed success against feared opponents Spain, with which the national soccer team wants to avert the threatening preliminary round. “We all left the room with the feeling that we would win the game,” said Julian Brandt from Dortmund, who did not play against Japan.
The 23-year-old Havertz rejected assessments that Flick was too nice with the team. “The last thing you can blame the manager for is not talking clearly to us,” said the Chelsea pro. It was “time” to “talk to each other and tell each other the truth,” said Havertz: “You also approach each other.” The team is “in a bad moment, but Sunday’s game can be the turning point.” Havertz described Spain’s 7-0 win against Costa Rica as a “strong result”. Nevertheless, one will “hide zero point zero” on the pitch.
The stimulating climate, which is reinforced by criticism of the team, is intended to release positive energy in the Al Bait Stadium. “I can understand that negativity arises, I know that there is a lot of shooting against us,” said Havertz. Brandt called the botched start of the tournament a “shitty situation we’re in”, but also spoke of the chance to “turn the whole mood” with a win on Sunday. The initial shock should leave no further traces. Except for a large portion of defiance and courage, because not everything was bad. “We have a lot of good scenes that we can show the team with a view to Spain,” said Flick. Despite numerous points of criticism, the 57-year-old sees no reason for general doubts.
Even after the radical disillusionment, no general upheaval can be expected from the national coach. “We trust the team. We are positive and we want to approach the game positively,” he said. The defensive variant with Niklas Süle as right-back should be over. In midfield, Flick has to clarify whether he can find a place for Leon Goretzka around Joshua Kimmich and the new chief critic Ilkay Gündogan. The national coach may also be annoyed that he didn’t let Jamal Musiala play more centrally against Japan.
Decisions have to be made. Flick feels that fear would be a bad advisor now. Who can keep the necessary calm in crisis mode? Who can remember the embarrassing preliminary round knockout? four years ago in Russia and shedding the déjà vu worries? “It’s about having the courage to show yourself. We have to make sure that each individual plays better for themselves,” emphasized the national coach.
The starting position remains precarious. Even if Japan were to draw against World Cup shooting gallery Costa Rica and lose to Spain, the end would be sealed – for the DFB team and possibly also for Flick as national coach. Flick cannot build on history either. In the last competitive win at the 1988 European Championship, Rudi Völler scored both goals to make it 2-0. Whether Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich or Gündogan, many have never been able to win against Spain. From Flick’s World Cup squad, only Thomas Müller, Antonio Rüdiger and Mario Götze made it: 1-0 in the test eight years ago on a rainy night in Vigo.
