The desire for World Cup football is still great in the German team. But the opening game against Japan is under new signs after the “One Love” scandal. There is a stimulating climate.
In a black long-sleeved shirt, Manuel Neuer unwound the goalkeeping rituals he had practiced before countless football games, watched closely by Hansi Flick.
The national coach stood in the center circle and held his palm in front of his forehead to get a better look at his captain during the final training session. Neuer will lead the national team this Wednesday (2:00 p.m. / ARD and MagentaTV) in Doha against Japan with special public attention in the Chalifa International Stadium – without the “One Love” – which has now become a historic World Cup symbol bandage. Neuer and the entire DFB team, it seems, have already lost in Qatar before their first game has even started.
Focus on the sporty
Far removed from the outrage and lack of understanding at home about the submission to FIFA dictates, which many considered disgraceful, Flick tried not to lose focus on the desired opening win in the final phase of sporting preparation. Flick’s team, led by veteran Neuer and young star Jamal Musisla, is still keen on World Cup football even after the power struggle with the bandages. But the cheerfulness has also suffered in the DFB quarter at the northernmost tip of Qatar. The work on the pitch seemed very concentrated on Tuesday morning. The looseness is gone.
The 36-year-old Neuer actually wanted to put the “One Love” message on his left upper arm as a visible sign of human dignity in his 17th World Cup game, at his fourth and probably last World Cup. DFB director Oliver Bierhoff complained indignantly that the players and coaches were under “pressure” at the most unfavorable point in time.
“It’s really annoying”
“It’s really annoying. FIFA says it’s about football,” Bierhoff fumed. The 26 German players are still concerned with football, with the world championship title as the high point in the life of a footballer. And the 57-year-old Flick had to deal with the everyday problems of a national coach again. Because Leroy Sané was absent from the training ground before the 110-kilometer bus ride from Al-Ruwais to the matchday hotel in the capital, Doha.
According to the DFB, the 26-year-old attacker is out with problems in his right knee. It was initially unclear whether the problems were of a worse nature. This means that the strong Bayern block, consisting of seven players, is definitely broken and cannot fully play against Japan. If that was Flick’s idea.
What is the national coach planning? This question has remained unanswered since the arrival of the DFB entourage in Qatar. Flick withdrew completely. No more public speaking about anything or anyone. Four days of secret tactics training in the red DFB castle in Al-Shamal. Before his first tournament as national coach, Flick’s focus around the clock was solely on the team and the tricky start against the Japanese, who were peppered with Bundesliga players, which should immediately show the further direction of the tournament. A draw or even a defeat would immediately worsen the situation in the group ahead of the Spain game.
“At a World Cup, it’s always important that you start a tournament well. That means we have to be there from the first minute,” Flick said during a brief stopover in Muscat after the poor 1-0 win over Oman . By the way: At this last World Cup test, also already under FIFA sovereignty, Neuer was allowed to wear the now suddenly incriminated “One Love” bandage; without the threat of any sporting sanctions. DFB President Bernd Neuendorf did not want to expose Neuer to a situation like this in Qatar. It remained open until the end what the sanctioning of FIFA would have looked like.
Believe in the title
The “mindset”, as the youngster Musiala said, is geared towards “that we can win the title” within the team. Flick believes he has nominated the right group for this, with the right footballing strengths and characters. With Neuer, Antonio Rüdiger, Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Müller as the axis, with a few wild youngsters and a late-call striker joker like Niclas Füllkrug.
Nobody knows, however, whether Flick believes that World Cup veteran Müller is capable of immediately leading the German offensive again after a week-long break due to various physical problems, possibly even right up front as a striker. “Thomas made a good impression,” Neuer was able to report after the training impressions.
Sané’s failure forces Flick to rethink at the front. Serge Gnabry left? Jonas Hofmann in? Or move Musisla from the center to the wing? Is there perhaps a coup at the start with national team returnee Mario Götze, who could probably effectively fill in the Sané vacancy in the top condition shown at Eintracht Frankfurt in his first international match in five years? “Mario is a brilliant footballer,” Flick said about the “very mature” Götze when he was nominated for the World Cup. And: “He’s in great shape.”
It’s about fitness, about willingness, about Flick’s “all-in mentality” that has been demanded again and again. In a game that for many fans at home has long been much more than “just” the shadow of the forbidden “One Love” bandage.
The possible lineups:
Germany: 1 Neuer – 5 Kehrer, 15 Süle, 2 Rüdiger, 3 Raum – 6 Kimmich, 21 Gündogan – 18 Hofmann, 14 Musiala, 10 Gnabry – 13 Müller
Japan: 12 Gonda – 19 Sakai, 22 Yoshida, 16 Tomiyasu, 5 Nagatomo – 6 Endo, 7 Shibasaki – 8 Doan, 15 Kamada, 11 Kubo – 25 Maeda
Referee: Ivan Barton (Salvador)
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
