DHe wanted to treat himself to a moment. So on Wednesday evening in the Leipzig stadium he briefly looked up at the video wall and checked the time. After that, Philipp Max knew that he had been playing in the jersey of the German national team for more minutes than his famous father – Martin Max, the former Bundesliga striker.
“After ten minutes I checked my watch, I overtook him and was very satisfied,” said son Philipp after his debut at 1-0 (1-0) in the friendly against the Czech Republic.
His father, who played for 1860 Munich and Borussia Mönchengladbach, among others, had a full seven minutes in his only international match as a joker in a 0-1 win against Argentina. Philipp Max, who moved from FC Augsburg to PSV Eindhoven in the summer, on the other hand, had 69 minutes on his first appearance, “which I really enjoyed”.
Max was a ray of hope on an evening when national coach Joachim Löw had sent a B-Elf into the race in the absence of many regulars, and not just because of the blond hair. Max knew how to convince with an energetic duel, but also with many good, courageous advances on the outside lane. In the 13th minute he prepared Luca Waldschmidt’s 1-0 with a precise cross.
The 27-year-old made a lasting impression, which could prove to be an advantage in terms of further nominations. Because the time in which Löw – due to injuries, but also the breaks that he had recently allowed established forces due to the high stress – increasingly gave players from the second row a chance, should be over. When asked if the time for the warm-up would begin, Löw said that he hoped it would.
Philipp Max (left) claps with Joachim Löw
Source: dpa
“It always depends on whether there are injuries. We now have two more games and then another three in March, and then the nomination and preparation for the EM. Of course it’s about importing. Against Ukraine (on Saturday, d. R.) and Spain (next Tuesday, d. R.) we try not to make as many changes. Importing is now an important issue. “
Süle and colleagues strengthen the team
How important this is to the 60-year-old is underscored by the fact that he contacted his old companion Hansi Flick before the Czech game to clarify whether it was Löw’s assistant in the national team for him, and since last year trains FC Bayern, it would be okay if Niklas Süle joined the national team on Thursday after his corona quarantine ended. Flick agreed – and so Süle, who according to Löw has “no symptoms at all”, traveled to Leipzig alongside the other Bayern professionals Manuel Neuer, Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sané and Leon Goretzka. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Timo Werner (Chelsea London) and Matthias Ginter (Borussia Mönchengladbach) also joined the team.
Now the selection of the German Football Association (DFB) did not always know how to playfully convince even with the permanent staff, above all it often seemed unstable, which is why they also received the equalizer in some games at the end – like at the beginning of October against them Turkey. The 3: 3 fell in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
But the appearances may be better and more attractive if there is less rotation in the future and automatisms become established. Now Joachim Löw is known for not being particularly impressed by what criticism comes down to him and the team from the outside, recently there has been more malice and ridicule. Nevertheless, he registered “that the mood is different. We feel that too. “
Miese Quote
The once so high identification with the team has suffered, which the audience again revealed. The test match broadcast on RTL had to leave the market leadership to the ZDF junk show and its presenter Horst Lichter during the first half. On average, only 5.28 million viewers tuned in to football. 5.45 million people were able to warm to “Bares for Rares”. For ZDF this meant a market share of 16.9 percent, while RTL had 16.3 percent. After all, more viewers watched football in the second half – a total of 5.55 million.
A trend reversal takes time, but above all appearances that inspire, excite. The fact that only one out of 18 international matches was lost in the past two years – 2: 4 against the Netherlands in September 2019 – speaks for the team, but has not improved its reputation. But on Saturday there is already an opportunity to do something for the reputation in the game against Ukraine.
Although the national coach certified that he was “very committed” with “very good approaches”, Philipp Max will probably remain the spectator again.
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