National team: Huge disillusionment after Hansi Flick’s debut as national coach

Tough start in a new era: Hansie Flick has yet to show any excitement over his national coach debut and has even gotten a few whistles. The successor of “Eternal” Joachim Low reduced the German national football team to 2–0 (1–0) against Liechtenstein in World Cup qualification, which didn’t really tear anyone out of their seats. It became clear to the flick that every beginning is difficult.

“Of course we decided to score more goals. We fought. It was weird, difficult, the opponent defended so deeply, I’ve never seen it before,” said Joshua Kimmich on RTL. “Nothing really worked. It’s hard to rate this game. It wasn’t really a football game.”

Timo Werner (41st) and Leroy Sane (77th) gave the eleventh national coach their first win, being third in Group J in the fourth game en route to the final in Qatar in 2022. In other doubles with Armenia also expected to clinch mandatory wins for Stuttgart (Sunday) and Iceland’s Hansi Flick in Reykjavik (Wednesday). There is much work left.

Not entirely unexpected, the number 189 in the FIFA world rankings (only 21 teams still come later) did not face any unresolved tasks for the German team at St. Gallen – the only question in front of the 7,958 spectators was How big was the victory. But: it started lame, extremely lame. Playing for the brave Liechtensteiner was not as easy as expected; Force, precision, ideas and passion were lacking.

Gossens post hit – offensive stays yellow

Convinced goalkeeper Benjamin Buchel warmed his hands by Joshua Kimmich and striker Werner (4th/7th), Robin Gosens led the post (19th), Werner’s fourth attempt was at the end. With much commitment and good organization, Liechtenstein managed to make the German offensive look steady. The flick was not satisfied at all and quickly sent creative forces to warm up.

German game changes were little dynamic until the second half. It was hardly possible to go behind the defence, a series of five to six waiting for the stars of the German offensive in their penalty area. It was a siege with rare successes: Ilke Gundogan and Gossens failed several times, while Buchel (58th) sat against.

Flick waved his hand after the scene, he had seen enough – and he brought in Marco Reus, Serge Gnabry, Jonas Hoffman. Kai Havertz and Riddle Baku disappointed. However, it didn’t get much better. Daniel Kaufman boldly grabbed his head in Gossens’ violent shot (68th). Met Sane for the first time. Then Leverkusen youngster Florian Wirtz made his A-team debut (82nd) ​​- and a short time later, Gossen had to go down with an injury.

The flick wants to “give others a chance”

The new national coach was met with a very friendly welcome from many German fans at the Kibunpark Alternative Stadium, the disappointing EM was forgotten. He shouted “gasp” with Flick in a TV interview before sitting on the German bench for the first time since the 2014 World Cup final (at the time as Lowe’s assistant). After 15 years at Lowe’s it was nothing less than a turning point.

The 56-year-old Flick sought “enthusiasm” on “RTL,” he set the course and surprised. Paris Saint-Germain’s Thilo Kehrer defended the last four, young Munich star Jamal Musiala, who started 1-0 with a great single, was so impressed with the former Bayern coach that he called him into the starting line-up. first time. Antonio Rudiger and Gnabry sat on the bench, with the absence of Manuel Neuer (spared) and Thomas Müller (left ill) blown off the planned axis of the flick anyway.

“We have three games in some days. You can give others a chance,” Flick recently said of Kehrer’s club coach Mauricio Pochettino. Florian Neuhaus and Lukas Klostermann were not part of the team.

It was difficult to gain tactical knowledge in front of the opponent. There was high-pressing flash here and there, the departure from the defensive back three that had announced the flick. Little of standard coach Mads Butgereit’s new moves was to be anticipated, and a bigger striker is still unavailable.