This is not an announcement: The second half ran in the first game of the second Nations League season between Germany and Spain. The DFB team defended a 1-0 lead, stood low and left the ball to the Spaniards. At first, not too much happened and so ZDF reporter Béla Réthy was able to philosophize about the importance of the apparently approaching victory. “That’s an announcement,” said Rethy among other things. The equalizer fell in stoppage time. Otherwise it would not have been an announcement, because the opponent came to Stuttgart from vacation with practically no preparation and was not in the condition known from previous years.
The result: The goal to make it 1-1 came in the sixth minute of stoppage time, you can read the details in the match report here.
The return of the ice bucket: If there had been a betting quota as to whether ZDF presenter Jochen Breyer would approach the TV broadcaster’s new expert on his ice ton interview at the 2014 World Cup, it would have been extremely low. Breyer did it and Per Mertesacker said that at the time, following Boris Büchler’s questions, he said: “I will never do an interview again for ZDF.” Mertesacker is now the successor to Oliver Kahn, who as a board member of FC Bayern no longer wants to show his expertise. According to national coach Joachim Loew, Mertesacker was “not at all” uncomfortable as a player. Whether that will be different as an expert cannot yet be judged after this first appearance. As on the lawn, there was a lot of scanning involved.
Faithful 12: In the Bundesliga, the clubs are working on the return of spectators to the stadiums – regardless of the size. No fans were allowed in the first international match since November 2019. The national team fan club – not known in specialist circles for its ecstatic enthusiasm – was still present, with a choreography: “In good times as well as in difficult times – we stay …”, and then in oversized letters “TREU 12”. Whatever that means.
First half: The national coach had opted for a back three in defense, two central midfielders with Ilkay Gündogan and Toni Kroos and two strikers. This formation initially worked much better defensively than in attack. This is not surprising, since such processes are easier to study in short preparation phases. There were still chances of a half-time lead, but Spain goalkeeper David de Gea parried Thilo Kehrer’s header (11th minute) and Leroy Sané’s shot. Since the Spaniards also had two good opportunities through Rodrigo and Sergio Busquets (14/23), the goalless draw at break was the right result.
The crux with Can: Emre Can brings a lot with him that could make him one of the formative national players of the DFB-Elf. He is physically strong, fast, he wins tackles, but he also has a good passing game and can be dangerous for goals. Borussia Dortmund brought the all-rounder last winter mainly because he can lead a team. And yet, both at BVB and in the national team, he is not an undisputed regular player. This time Löw used him as a right defender in the back three – and did Can not do a favor. He allowed himself a few insecurities in the first round. The Dortmund player has to play more centrally, but there are other players in front of him in the DFB hierarchy.
Second half: Ilkay Gündogan hit a remarkable diagonal pass to debutant Robin Gosens. The professional from Atalanta Bergamo matched Timo Werner and the new Londoner from FC Chelsea hit the left corner after a short delay (51st). Germany led and withdrew too far – also due to the substitution of Löw. The DFB team became too passive and so the compensation fell logically.
Rules with Gosens: “You have to know that as a professional footballer.” Expert Mertesacker was amazed at Gosens’ self-knowledge, who admitted in an interview after the game that he did not know how to pick up the opposing offside as a player who was out of goal. Gosens raised his hand as a signal for the linesman when José Gayà was stabbed – but the goal counted. The 26-year-old has nevertheless recommended himself for further appearances in the DFB jersey.
So it goes on: The year 2020 still has seven more international matches in store for the “Loyalty 12”. Five Nations League and two test games against Turkey (October 7th) and the Czech Republic (November 11th). But first of all, next Sunday will follow, when Switzerland is the second opponent in the Nations League in Basel. The national team lost 2-1 at the start in the Ukraine. All results and tables can be found in the SPIEGEL sports center.
