Nations League, national team: Germany wins against Ukraine

Stand: 11:00 p.m. | Reading time: 4 minutes

EFor a long time there was uncertainty in Leipzig. Is the German national team playing or is the game in the Nations League against Ukraine canceled because of several positive corona cases in the guests’ team? The health authorities only gave the green light five hours before kick-off. The back and forth obviously had no effect on the national team’s game – Germany won 3-1 (2-1) after a solid performance and will fight for group victory in Seville next Tuesday in Seville.

“Yesterday I felt a sense of insecurity in our team. The players wanted to know on Friday night how things will go next. But thank God it turned out that the game could take place, ”said national coach Joachim Löw before kick-off. Four players and a team member from Ukraine tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday. They were immediately isolated from their teammates so that the entire team did not have to be quarantined. All of the following 35 tests by players, coaches and supervisors were negative. “We trust the health authorities who have worked hard. During the game, the risk of infection is much lower than in the environment, which is easier to control. In addition, the double negative test gives security, most recently even in the afternoon before the game, ”explained DFB team doctor Tim Meyer.

With his line-up, Löw proved that the time for experimentation is over and that preparations for the European Championship next year have begun. The 60-year-old brought his best possible starting XI, for the first time this year Timo Werner, Leroy Sané and Serge Gnabry formed the attack together. Sané scored a goal and Werner decided the game with a brace.

Defense wobbles in the first half

That the offensive is not the national coach’s problem became clear after just twelve minutes when Germany fell behind after a chain of mistakes. Antonio Rüdiger let Oleksandr Zubkov do it. In the penalty area, Philipp Max and Robin Koch could not clear the ball. He landed at Roman Yarenchuk, who hammered him into the corner from eleven meters to make it 0-1 for Manuel Neuer.

It was the first shot on Neuer’s goal, which made his 95th international match against Ukraine. The game in Spain on Tuesday evening (8.45 p.m., ARD) would be his 96th international match, so he would have overtaken goalkeeper legend Sepp Maier. “Manuel Neuer will definitely play over 120 international matches,” says Maier. He sees no reason why Neuer should end his career in the national team in the foreseeable future. “Why then? Nothing is missing. ”At the moment, the captain, who made his debut in a 7-2 draw against the United Arab Emirates in 2009, lacks a stable defense in the national team. After the opening goal, the honest Ukrainians had some good chances against the German defense, which looked shaky in the first half. Again and again the defenders stood too far away from their opponents and left too large spaces.

Ukraine did not take advantage of their chances and received the compensation for it. Leon Goretzka captured the ball in front of the defense and quickly switched. He drove the ball halfway across the field and sent Sané. The winger pulled into the middle and sank the ball to make it 1: 1 in the far corner (23rd). Ten minutes later, Goretzka put on the next goal. He took a high ball from Koch artistically and crossed it into the six-yard area, where Timo Werner only had to hold out his head and headed it to make it 2-1.

The leadership gave Germany security, the team had the game under control. Against the increasingly tired Ukrainians, the Löw-Elf created many chances after the break. Werner used one of them in the 64th minute. The FC Chelsea striker completed a combination via Ilkay Gündogan and Matthias Ginter by taking the ball directly and pushing it over the line to make it 3-1. It was the early decision against weakened guests. But Germany did not finish the game confidently this time either. After a misalignment on the German defense, Junior Moraes was free to shoot. His attempt was deflected by Koch and landed on the post. It was the third aluminum hit by the guests.

“It was a very difficult game today. In our current situation, only wins help us, ”said Goretzka.

Since Spain only played 1-1 in Switzerland on Saturday evening, Löw’s team, which is still unbeaten in 2020, will be leaders in the final preliminary round of the Nations League. A draw on Tuesday is enough to secure group victory.