Nations League
In the last second: DFB team gambled away victory against Spain
Timo Werner (l.) – here in a header duel with Thiago Alcantara (r.) – scored the only goal for the DFB team
© Christian Charisins / dpa
For a long time it looks like a close victory for the DFB-Elf against Spain. But when Jogi Löw’s team awaits the final whistle, a Spaniard strikes.
New start with light and shadow: In a long and tough football classic, the national team against Spain missed a warning sign at the last second at the start of the European Championship season. Despite the lead, national coach Joachim Löw’s selection came to a 1: 1 (0: 0) on Thursday after an almost ten month break in the corona ghost game of the ex-world champions. The goal from Timo Werner (51st minute) was equalized by Luis José Gayà (90th + 6th) on Thursday in Stuttgart and thus prevented Löw’s first competitive win against Spain.
289 days after the last international match, substitute captain Toni Kroos and the returnees Leroy Sané and Niklas Süle showed the lack of freshness and match practice. After all, they really bit their way, especially in the second half. Löw did without four Munich triple winners around Manuel Neuer. Like two years ago against France, the DFB-Elf started the second edition of the Nations League with a draw and are still waiting for a win in the competition after seven games. The next opportunity will be on Sunday when Switzerland is the opponent in Basel.
Empty stadium depresses Löw
Löw was all in black, but mostly on the edge of his coaching zone with white sneakers. The empty stadium had depressed the national coach shortly before the game. “Not what you want as a coach or player,” said the 60-year-old on ZDF, before his team’s full concentration was on with the kick-off. In an actually offensive formation with a three-man chain and mostly two tips, the DFB team tried to put the Spaniards under pressure early on in their own half. Löw applauded the successful actions – but he also saw deficits, especially in the first half.
The Spaniards played with high pressure and provoked errors in the coordination between defense and midfield. A weak back pass from Emre Can, which started somewhat surprisingly instead of Matthias Ginter in central defense, led to a misunderstanding between Kevin Trapp, who rushed out of his goal, and Süle. Against the thought-quick Rodrigo Trapp was able to clear with a tackle in the penalty area (14th). Shortly before half-time, the Frankfurt goalkeeper stood out against the Leeds professional (45th).
DFB professionals show their potential
On the offensive, the young DFB professionals showed their huge potential in the beginning. Behind Sané, who was replaced after a good hour, and Werner from New London, Julian Draxler started as a central midfielder somewhat surprisingly. With Süle, who made his 25th international match on his 25th birthday, the Spaniard Thiago (both FC Bayern) and his Parisian teammate Thilo Kehrer, he was one of four professionals who had only played in the Champions League final eleven days ago. Atalanta Bergamo’s quarter-finalist Robin Gosens made his international debut.
The advanced full-back Kehrer with a header (11th), Draxler (14th) and Sané (18th) tested the Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea early. Until Werner’s goal after good preparatory work by Gosens passed many minutes without any noteworthy offensive actions by the DFB team. Sané, who was not eligible to play in the premier class after his move to FC Bayern and therefore traveled to Stuttgart with almost no match practice, was initially the most conspicuous national player. Werner got stronger in the second half, the Chelsea striker also hit the side netting 61 after preliminary work by Sané.). Süle failed with a header to De Gea (79th).
Bayern and Leipzig spared against Spain
In the absence of the spared Munich Champions League winners Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Serge Gnabry, who would all be in the starting eleven at the EM next year in the form of the premier class tournament in Lisbon, Löw had less than three days to reposition his team. “In the course of the game, I don’t really know what’s going to happen. Who is getting tired? Who is running out of strength?” Loew had said. On Thursday evening, the national coach completely renounced the Leverkusen-based Kai Havertz, who should be about to move to Chelsea.
The Spaniards, who are in a major upheaval with seven newcomers in the squad, turned out to be an unpleasant but far from overpowering opponent at the start. After the German lead, Rodrigo (58th) with a shot just over the gate and Fabián Ruiz (64th), whose attempt Trapp parried, had good opportunities to equalize. Trapp was also there against Óscar 84.).
